Coralie Bickford-Smith spoils us, again…grrr!!

While I was in Waterstones (Edinburgh) a couple of Saturday’s ago, I noticed a new redesigned range of hardback classics on one of their end displays. The range is really something to behold (errr..and hold). Sumptuous in look and velvety in texture (the covers, not the page )), this is a collection you can’t help but covet.

Imagine my surprise today then, when I stumbled across the latest (and most hilarious )) post over at the Penguin Blog, from Alan, one of Penguin’s copywriters. He reveals that creative supremo Coralie Bickford-Smith, (the same artist who I’ve evangelised about before for her design of the outstanding covers for Penguin’s Gothic Reds), is the artist behind the design of this new ‘exclusive to Waterstones’ range as well.

Now, as much as I adore Coralie and her art, I detest her too ). Here’s me sitting quite happy with a perfectly adequate Wordsworth Classics copy of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment on my shelves, and Coralie comes along with her ‘must have’ cover designs and makes me feel all desirous and edgy. It doesn’t just stop there though does it? You buy one and then the craving starts for the others, and you just can’t stop until you’ve emptied your already-straining bank account and bought the full range……ohhhh…..damn this insatiable burden of ‘book love’ and damn Penguin’s expertise for commissioning such talented artists! )

Seriously though, this is one sexy range of classics and if you live anywhere near a Waterstones (because remember they are Waterstones exclusive), then I urge you to go and check them out. Be warned though, once you’ve held one or more of these in your hands you’re unlikely to leave the shop without buying any.

Alternately of course you can also buy the full range online at Waterstones.com.

I’d also urge you to take a minute to pop along to the Penguin blog because Alan also has some news on a recent award that Coralie has won for her design efforts.

So congratulations and all that Coralie (because it’s deserved), but is there any chance you can retire from cover design anytime soon? Preferably before I bankrupt myself and my wife files for divorce! )