While writing my previous post on The Road Through The Wall, I came across a wonderful range of covers for Shirley Jackson’s novels, and I wanted to bring the variety together for a final post. Thanks to those of you who joined in Shirley Jackson Reading Week; sorry that all three organisers found themselves busier than expected! If you didn’t manage it, there is always opportunity to read her now or at any time, of course :)
Warning: some of the covers are absurdly spoilerific.
The Road Through The Wall
Hangsaman
The Bird’s Nest
The Sundial
Life Among the Savages
Raising Demons
The Haunting of Hill House
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
Oh my! The lurid ones are very entertaining, and I’m just so impressed by the entire collection all together like this. I have to say, my favourites are the Penguin editions just prior to the recent rereleases… oops. I wish I’d had time to join in, but I’ve been following people’s blogs and reading all kinds of excellent reviews. I do love Jackson and certainly hope to read everything she’s written. But not just yet – I need to hold onto a few to still have something to look forward to!
Great idea. It’s particularly interesting to see the contrast between the Classic Penguins with paintings above the black title bar and the new Penguin Modern Classics with photographs (as is the case with their entire catalogues).
I’ve only read two of them, and loved both, so looking forward to reading much more Shirley Jackson.
I love this post. Often, when browsing for books, we do judge a book by its cover, especially those by authors we don’t know. You’ve shown the considerably different ways in which a single book can be presented. There are only three covers for We Have Always Lived in the Castle that would appeal enough for me to pick it up from the shelf. Amazing! If I had any artistic talent, I’d go in for dust jacket design.
I’d have imagined The Haunting of Hill House would be the easiest one to illustrate, but actually, I like those covers the least!
I love to look at different covers! Such a plethora of styles and design trends. The cat in the grass of WHALIC is the one I first read from the library in high school and I will always remember it fondly.
It’s so fun, isn’t it? Some truly appalling choices over the years, amongst the nice ones.