Judging a Book by Its Cover: Fans, Publishers, Designers, and the Marketing of Fiction

by Nicole Matthews

How do books attract their readers? This collection takes a closer look at book covers and their role in promoting sales and shaping readers' responses. Judging a Book by Its Cover brings together leading scholars, many with experience in the publishing industry, who examine the marketing of popular fiction across the twentieth century and beyond. Using case studies, and grounding their discussions historically and methodologically, the contributors address key themes in contemporary media, literary, publishing, and business studies related to globalisation, the correlation between text and image, identity politics, and reader reception. Topics include book covers and the internet bookstore; the links between books, the music industry, and film; literary prizes and the selling of books; subcultures and sales of young adult fiction; the cover as a signifier of literary value; and the marketing of ethnicity and lesbian pulp fiction. This exciting collection opens a new field of enquiry for scholars of book history, literature, media and communication studies, marketing, and cultural studies.

Genres: Nonfiction, Books About Books

216 pages, Hardcover

First published December 14, 2007

Reviews

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thesis research!

And good research it is too! Actually read the entire thing (well almost everything, those parts that were of interest to my thesis). Anybody that is interested in cover design and publishing. Read.this.book! All the articles will fascinate you :D.