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| Pick
up a Penguin |
Whoever said you shouldn’t
judge a book by its cover hadn’t thought about Penguin classics,
which are themselves now the subject of a book, writes Kim Janssen
WHOEVER coined that hoary old cliché, “never judge
a book by its cover”, obviously didn’t read enough.
If they did, they would know that a cover is more often than not
a pretty good guide to what’s inside.
Is it pink or sky blue with jolly, spidery yellow text and a sketchy
cartoon of a 30-something woman drinking cappuccino or chardonnay?
Chances are it’s a Bridget Jones chick-lit knock off of dubious
literary merit.
Does the title compete for space with the author’s name in
40-point size impact capitals and a dagger, explosion, or sultry
blonde? You’re probably looking at an airport thriller; don’t
be surprised if it reads like Jeffrey Archer wrote it.
Is there a faintly alarmed looking penguin in one corner looking
up at a design good enough to hang on the wall?
Then there’s a better than average likelihood it’s worth
the effort. The truth is, you’re supposed to judge books by
their covers; it’s why publishers pay graphic designers so
much.
And it’s no accident that the most talented and best paid graphic
designers tend, by and large, to work on the best books, the kind
that Penguin has pub-lished since Allen Lane set it up in 1935. |
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| OTHER
HEADLINES |
| Hare’s
gift transplanted from the stage to page |
| BOOKS |
| Finances
push grades off school curriculum |
| BOOKS |
| Big
tents and night-mayors |
| EXHIBITION
REVIEW |
| A
howling good flick |
| MOVIES |
| Dirty
men of grunge |
| MUSIC: GROOVES
AND CLASSICAL |
| Classical
listings & Top five gigs |
| MUSIC LISTINGS |
| Superb
revival has a stark current relevance |
| THEATRE |
| Theatre
listings |
| THEATRE |
| It’s
your Passepartout to a world of flavour |
| THE GOOD
LIFE |
| Watching
the legs at Mosaico |
| RESTAURANT
REVIEW |
| Japanese
treats to bring out selfish side |
| THE GOOD
LIFE |
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