I shall be brief because I am packing. Next week I am off to ‘The Lakes’ – Elizabeth Bennet never made it as far – luckily for her she was diverted to Pemberley – but having already bagged my Mr Darcy, I am determined to see Windermere. I shall send a postcard! I just wanted to say what a great time I had sharing excerpts of from my upcoming book this week and reading all your comments. The Events at Branxbourne is now available to pre-order and will be published very soon.
Meanwhile, my cover also had it’s unveiling at Just Jane 1813. I LOVE a cover reveal. I adore seeing what people have come up with for their books. Mine was created by the talented Susan Adriani. It’s so hard to find an image that fits your story, but we lucked out with this painting called The Golden Train by Edmund Blair. It has a darker feel, the lady seems hesitant and unsure whether she should descend the stairs or not, which was exactly right for this book.
While researching my own cover, I looked at the Pride & Prejudice covers through the ages, and here’s a little selection of the older ones -admittedly, some make me go hmmmm…… but then, being completely without artistic talent myself, who am I to judge? I just think it is wonderful that this book – now over 200 years old – keeps getting reprinted, in order that it may be continually rediscovered and loved by new generations of readers.
Elizabeth looks a bit like she’s being kidnapped in the first one, and I’m not sure what’s going on under Darcy’s hat in the second.
And…if anyone has a copy of this last one, please do let me know, because I think there must be a scene in it I don’t remember….
Have a good weekend.
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Have a fabulous time at ‘the Lakes’ I hope you get gorgeous weather.
I’m not sure those book covers would have tempted me although they are ‘tolerable I suppose!’ However I’m with you in that I would like to read that last version 🙂
I have my fingers crossed for the weather. Thanks Glynis.
Have a great trip. I love…LOVE this cover. OMG! Wow! It is simply beautiful and I look forward to reading it. Blessings on the launch and enjoy the Lakes.
Thank you. I am looking forward to hearing what you think of this book.
Preordered it as promised 🙂
I like your cover very much. It reminds me of all those portraits and staircases I have recently seen on our wonderful trip through The Peak District and Derbyshire. Had some odd déjà vu at certain houses, gardens & parks we toured…
Enjoy the Lakes!
Ah, you’re very kind. Thanks. It will be with you soon. Just doing final read through.
Superb cover, congratulations. The others are quite interesting….I bet some buyers were surprised with the story.
Yes Carla. Some readers must have been really surprised if they bought it based solely on the cover.
Enjoy the Lakes!! My own Mr. Darcy took me there when I graduated from college, and it was spectacular!! We were in the UK for three weeks in June, and the only days of rain were our first day and our last day. Everyone joked that we had brought our San Diego sunshine with us! 😉
After being a bookseller for the first ten years of my adult life, I have come to appreciate the rather lurid book covers of the ’40s-’70s. No, they aren’t really my cup o’ tea, but I find them endlessly fascinating in a strange, fixating way.
But your cover–wow!! I just “lurve” it!! Congratulations on the near-release of your newest book!! I wish I had time to offer up more proofreading services, but I’m buried in teaching online Shakespeare classes right now. I’d much prefer proofreading JAFF to discussing Shylock with a class of teens, though!! 😉
Happy and safe travels, Caitlin!! Congrats again!! 😀
Warmly,
Susanne, who needs to return to reading and commenting on nearly 150 Shakespeare posts today
I am glad to hear you loved the lakes. I have always wanted to go. What’s strange is that I have been to San Diego, but never to Windermere…even though I live in the UK. I shall try and post some pictures.
The old covers are fascinating, and a great example of how tastes and fashion has changed.
Thanks Susanne, ‘re: Shakespeare. I must doff my hat. I studied Othello, Hamlet and Macbeth in school, but have read no further than that.
Book covers are fascinating, aren’t they? I love hearing about the stories behind them and how and why particular images were used. The painting you’ve used for your book is an amazing find.
In the selection of older covers you’ve shown us is one I’ve actually got. It’s the reddish one at bottom left of the two rows and I was lucky enough to win it as part of a giveaway prize last year. It’s a bit fragile, so I probably won’t ever use it to read but it’s great to have an older edition as well as my newer ones. As to that final cover, it must be the equivalent of an “extended edition” which includes scenes that had previously ended up on the Regency version of the cutting room floor!
Have a fantastic time in the Lakes.
Oh wow. That’s great. The one with the hands and the letters? I think of all these that’s the one I like most. It actually looks like the artist read the book. Whereas some of these, hmmm. We’re actually fortunate now, with graphics and computers – a lot of these would have been illustrated by hand.
Have a wonderful trip and take lots of pictures! Another place on my list of many to visit when I eventually get over to England! As for your cover love it! Edmund Blair did some wonderful paintings! I’m waiting on your paperback to be released! The other covers remind me so much of the old Harlequin covers! I think though, if I ever come across an old copy of Pride & Prejudice, I would buy it! Hmmm…I may make that a quest now!
Thanks Carole. I think the paperback will be lovely. I’m with you, I think if I find any of these old covers on my travels, I’m going to buy them.
Enjoy your trip! Cannot wait to read your new book. I hate to admit that without the title being on some of these old covers, I’d probably wouldn’t read the book based on the pictures chosen. Many did not evoke Pride and Prejudice at all. Of course, recognize Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier on the cover; however, that movie wasn’t exactly anywhere near Jane Austen’s original story!
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Carol. Haven’t seen the Laurence Olivier version, but I have heard it is not much like the book. I shall definitely look out for it on the tv though. No, I agree, some of these don’t represent the book much. Particularly the kidnapping one….hmmm
Great cover, looking forward to reading the book! And I do have a copy of the last book cover!
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Hazel. No Way! How fabulous. I’m kind of jealous.
I think I have 4 or 5 from your pictures. I actually have well over 200 copies of P and P! Slight obsessive!
There are far worse things to be obsessed about. How wonderful! Do you have a picture of your collection?
Oh What a gorgeous gorgeous cover. I can’t wait to read this one. Ooooo, I’m so excited for you going to The Lakes. If you can, I do hope you can post some pictures.
Some of those old covers are hoot, some not so bad. I guess anyone who was trying to keep their publishing revenue coming in could take an old classic, copyrights no longer in effect, slap a new ‘hip’ cover on, keep some of their freelance artists happy, and voila’. But Lizzy with red hair and no neck? Nope.
So I am late in reading this blog. Hope your trip was the best. All those covers were interesting. I had a smile at the one in which it seems he is about to lower her bodice from her shoulder. With e-books now which seem to open at chapter one we don’t view the cover each time we pick up a book. I do try to look back before I begin reading. I love your cover and found the story to be excellent. Thanks for sharing here.