Before the age of the internet encyclopaedias were a major source of extra-curricular learning for children and adults alike, available in the form of individual bumper books about a whole topic (such as history for children) or multiple volume collections. Since the growth of the world wide web however encyclopaedia sales have naturally declined; with the answer to any question just a few clicks away people are less inclined to fill their bookshelves with thick books of general knowledge. In fact, in 2012 Encyclopaedia Britannica completely shut down its publication of bound encyclopaedias, moving entirely online after sales decreased dramatically in the early Nineties (though they do still appear to be publishing children’s encyclopaedias). Other notable encyclopaedia publishers of the 20th and 21st Century include Usborne and DK Publishers, both of which are also both online and still print children’s encyclopaedias. For those that do still publish print versions of their encyclopaedias, typography and the design of their book covers is just as, if not more important in attracting buyers as it was thirty years ago.
Dystopian novels have been a relatively popular genre of fiction since the early 1900s; with We by Yevgeny Zamyatin acclaimed as the first dystopian novel. More well-known titles within the genre include Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, and the series The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Most dystopian novels feature a totalitarian or authoritarian society that oppresses one or many groups within that society. The authorities within such plots tend to rule through extreme invasions of privacy and control via methods not dissimilar to methods within societies around the world now; collection of individuals’ data, policing of women’s bodies and withholding/banning information that goes against those in power - those who are anti-establishment are punished. As with all literature, the designs and typography for dystopian book covers has changed somewhat since the earlier novels within the genre. As society and politics has changed and technology has become a bigger part of our lives dystopian plots have changed focus slightly, and the designs for their covers have altered accordingly.
Autobiographies have long been used by public figures as a way of documenting their journey to the limelight and important moments in their lives or careers. Whether ghost-written or self-written, writing an autobiography or memoir seems to have become a rite of passage for public figures; from the memoirs of politicians such as Margaret Thatcher (former UK Prime Minister from 1979-1990) to the juicy tell-alls of reality stars such as Erika Jayne (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star from 2015-present), they seem a popular source of income for both the public figure and the publisher. Of course, the tone of a political memoir would be vastly different from a reality star’s, and this is where typography and cover design comes in.
Spirituality literature covers a wide range of subjects, from religion to crystal work to astrology. However, given the fact that spiritualities are based largely on a set of beliefs rather than proven facts, such subjects are not considered science. This means that while geology (the study of rocks) is considered a science, crystal healing (the practise of using crystal ‘chakra’ or energy to heal or channel certain energies) is not. Similarly, astronomy (the study of the planets and stars) is considered a science but astrology (the practice of using planetary movements to determine and predict outcomes and behaviours) is considered to be more of a spiritual study. This naturally means that such topics are written as entirely different genres, and so the designs of their book covers tend to differ quite a lot.
There are a lot of mixed attitudes towards so called ‘self help books’, books that aim to take aspects of psychology and its theories and use them to advise and encourage people to look within themselves and find ways to enhance their strengths and understand themselves better to better their mental and physical quality of life. While popularly sold in western countries, some feel that they promise a pipe dream and are less effective than they claim to be in improving people’s lives. It is therefore important that publishers design covers for such books in a way that project relatability and informality or friendliness as opposed to cold, scientific professionalism in order to attract the average person.
Recipe books may not be works of literature recounting tales of bravery or revolving around a tumultuous romantic relationship but they are still incredibly popular despite the current digital age of free online recipes. Recipe books are thought to have been published and sold commercially since the 4th century onwards (Culinary Matters by a Roman man called Apicius being one of the earliest recorded), though recipes have been recorded for personal use since long Before Christ. One of the most well known historical recipe books is Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management. Originally published in 1861 and still in print today, it covered everything from cooking meals and preparing sauces and jams to organising the household’s taxes. Modern recipe books no longer cover such a wide range of housekeeping, particularly because the role of housekeeping and indeed cooking is no longer constrained to the women of the house or its staff. Cookbooks are now often aimed at specific age or economic groups, or cover a specific type of food such as vegetarian meals. Cooking is also considered not just as a profession or necessity now, but also a hobby and so the design of recipe book covers has become much more important in aiming to catch the eye of the target demographic.
The Price of Salt, written in 1952 by Patricia Highsmith under the pseudonym Claire Morgan is a romance novel that follows the story of Therese, an aspiring stage designer in New York who falls in love with Carol, a housewife in the middle of a divorce and vicious battle over the custody of her daughter. What ensues is a tale of finding oneself, the complicated matter of love and a heart-breaking observation of the social attitudes towards same-sex relationships at that time. The book has since been republished as Carol as well as being adapted into a movie in 2015 and published as an ebook and audiobook. The repeated republishing of hard copies since 1952 has inevitably resulted in a plethora of book covers, all of which brandish different typefaces that reflect attitudes towards the book and its themes over time. However, the most interesting and potentially misleading design is that of the very first edition.
