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John Squire's Penguin Decades covers
Posted by Mark Sinclair, 16 April 2010, 13:42 Permalink Comments (20)
Penguin launched its Decades series this month, with five titles each representing the best novels of the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. We really liked the covers for the 1980s series, designed by a man perhaps more known for his art (and the Stone Roses): John Squire...
The plans for the series were announced earlier this year (and covered in Design Week) and are part of Penguin's 75th anniversary celebrations. But we thought Squire's efforts, which hit the shops this month, were so nice that they warranted a post. Squire created a series of paintings for the covers under the direction of Penguin's Jim Stoddart.
You can view the rest of the covers for classics from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, here. They were created by Peter Blake (50s), Allen Jones (60s), and Zandra Rhodes (70s) under the art direction of John Hamilton at Penguin.
Here are the five books from the 1980s series with Squire's covers.
Thanks to Steve Hare for the tip.
20 Comments
Nice work. Love the William Boyd cover.
2010-04-16 15:20:23
Seconded.
2010-04-16 15:29:13
Thriced
2010-04-16 15:35:10
These are really nice covers, like the use of the Mondrian style colour scheme for Anita Brookner's book 'Latecomers'.
http://cvmiddleton.blogspot.com/
2010-04-16 16:11:02
All of them are lovely. Makes me want to buy the set.
2010-04-19 17:37:07
I really like the hand crafted designs. Excellent covers.
2010-04-20 13:05:06
A beautiful set of work
2010-04-20 13:19:29
Brilliant, well done John really lovely artwork.
2010-04-20 13:24:20
sixtheded.
2010-04-20 15:17:56
This is an exciting post, thanks. The Ackroyd and Brookner covers are particularly strong. Not so sure about the Boyd one, but all round a good effort.
2010-04-20 16:21:19
Consider yourself Sevenced Steve.
2010-04-20 16:58:53
wow i love these! i want to buy them all ...latecomers, hawksmoor and a month in the country my favourites. they are so beautiful - squire has a lovely raw style - great idea to commission him for the 80's series ;)
2010-04-21 10:47:41
Love the Ackroyd cover, nice post!
2010-04-21 15:57:17
TImeless design. Helvetica will never become outdated!
2010-04-23 08:50:31
love the Hawksmoor cover. nice.
2010-04-23 13:24:14
not quite what the world is waiting for john.....nice piece tho.
2010-04-25 19:32:32
Prefer Will Sergeant's artwork instead.
2010-04-26 19:52:58
I really like these. The worn in look works well for books that have stood the test of time.
2010-04-27 13:00:13
Love the coffins, although it wouldn't make me want to read it, which surely would be the point.
2010-04-27 13:15:39
Why have Penguin steered so clear of these design templates? It almost always produces great designs.
I know times change, but they're very popular at the moment, as are the 1934-1950 duo covers. It would be good to see this style of Penguin return also.
2010-04-28 11:15:22
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