Includes bibliographical references (p. 139) and index.

The evolution of the book jacket -- The impact of Modernism : the 1920s and 1930s -- The modernist jacket -- Designing in monochrome -- Graphic innovation -- Edward Bawden and Eric Ravilious -- Victor Gollancz -- Classic novels -- Strange and surreal -- Barnett Freedman -- Penguin : the creation of a brand -- Early paperback series -- Colour and printing -- The author as artist -- Dutch graphic design -- The creation of style : the 1940s to the 1960s -- Lettering -- Edward McKnight Kauffer -- European writers -- Bond novels -- Science fiction -- Alvin Lustig -- Through the keyhole -- American classic novels -- Penguin and the paperback -- Kitchen-sink novels -- Discreetly scandalous : Lolita -- The pulp fiction jacket -- American graphic artists -- The American thriller -- The beat generation -- Playing with typography -- British classic novels -- A revolution in print : the 1960s and 1970s -- Psychedelia -- Exploring the erotic -- Len Deighton -- Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar -- Paul Rand -- The British crime novel -- The paperback explosion : Penguin -- The paperback explosion : other publishers -- Cold War paranoia -- The times they are a-changin' -- Poetry -- Classic novels -- Counter culture -- Agatha Christie -- Design in the digital age : the 1980s and 1990s -- Faber and Faber -- Picador -- Harvill Press -- Bloomsbury -- The postmodern novel -- Penguin : new designs -- Pocket canons -- Black Sparrow Press -- Andrzej Klimowski -- Granta -- Jeff Fisher -- Indigo -- Rebel Inc -- Grove Atlantic.

A revealing and entertaining look at the great book jackets of the 20th century from across the world. Author Alan Powers tells the story of the book jacket from its early days, via the advent of the paperback, right up to the most eye-catching covers produced today. With over 300 illustrations, including first editions by famous authors, jackets by major designers and artists, groundbreaking series from major publishing houses, and classic pulp-fiction jackets, this unique and fascinating insight into the world of the front cover will appeal to anyone with a passion for books.