Richard Merritt Follow-Up

When I posted about the striking new Vintage Classic Nancy Mitfords recently, I didn't know the designer until the art director of those covers showed up to let me know: they were the work of Richard Merritt. Looking through his other work was very interesting, as I would never have guessed that the creator of these covers was the same as the creator of his previous book covers. This is not a criticism, by the way--it's just that the delicate and subtle Mitford images are quite different from the colourful, dynamic and cartoonish work, full of odd angles and detail bursting out of the frame, that he has done elsewhere. It's intriguing to see such a difference in styles, and make sme want to know what else he'll come up with in the future.

Compare:

versus:

(The last two being picture books Merritt wrote and illustrated--and, indeed, where are Santa's pants?)

Sepia Mitfords

Forthcoming from Vintage Classics, a reissuing of Nancy Mitford's four biographies of famous persons, with rather ace matching covers. All use limited sepia-toned palettes, silhouettes and lovingly detailed patterns. I wish I knew who had done these. [UPDATE: They are the work of Richard Merritt] My only concern is that the usual red spines of the Vintage Classics series will look a bit glarey here--perhaps they could make an exception and do them in a rich chocolatey brown?

Click for somewhat bigger versions.