In a blow to authors who have created great front covers, some branches of Waterstones are turning books round and displaying them back to front, reports the Guardian.
Beautiful covers – like that of Andy Beer’s book, Every Day Nature – can drive sales. The swallows on the front are by Lesley Buckingham, who has also contributed many other lovely illustrations to the inside pages.
The reason for displaying the back of the book is to allow customers to read the blurb without picking up the book.
The Guardian’s article quotes cover designer Anna Morrison. ‘There is a real art to a book cover. It can be a real labour of love and it is a bit disappointing to think our work is being turned round.’
The head of the design team at Vintage, Suzanne Dean, understands why Waterstones are doing it but hopes they may use two copies of books and show the back and the front covers.
The front cover is a mini-poster for the book. It is our job, on the front, to grab the reader’s attention. You have a lot to convey in a small space and only a couple of seconds to attract the browser’s eye. It is an important thing and we are all striving for something that is creative, unique and striking.
Suzanne Dean, Head of Design at Vintage
If someone picks up a book in Waterstones but doesn’t buy it, the book is quarantined for 72 hours.
Cover-designer David Pearson said of the back-to-front displays, ‘It actually makes our credits more visible and, since we designed the back cover as well, it’s win-win really.