This meme was started by Books by Proxy, whose fabulous idea was to compare UK and US book covers and decide which is we prefer. This meme is currently being nurtured by Lynn’s Book Blog and the subject this week featuring on any of our covers is HEART, so I’ve selected a classic book that I read another lifetime ago – when I was a teenager – Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.
This edition was produced by Prestwick House in September 2004 and I think this cover is amazing. Classic books often have rather boring covers – but this one is nothing of the sort. This African coastline also incorporates the face of the protagonist in a psychedelic way and it’s also avoided the dreaded textbox. This one is my favourite.
Published in May 1995 by Penguin, this cover is a little more traditional – but nevertheless manages to be both attractive and exotic, providing the kind of illustration that most people contemporary with Conrad would envision Africa looking like. Sadly there is a textbox, but at least it has the good manners to be reasonably small with an inoffensive font.
This edition, published by Penguin in 1983, is even more traditionally classic with a sepia-shaded drawing that looked aged from the moment the paint dried. The obligatory textbox is splatted across the top of the cover like a big black carbuncle. Oh well.
Produced by Newton and Compton in July 2013, this Italian edition is more like it! I love the bright green and yellow cover with the tropical leaf design bordering the edge and featuring the small plant, complete with roots. The yellow heart marked up with the roots of that little plant is so very effective that I very nearly had this one as my favourite – what stopped me from choosing it was that nasty little blob advertising a special low price bang in the middle of the artwork *sigh*.
This edition, published by Enhanced Media Publishing in November 2016, is an arresting and attractive design and was the one that made me choose this book. I love the contrast of the bright red heart splitting apart against a black background. No textbox – yippee! And I love the lovely flowing title font. Which is your favourite?
Brainfluff 
I think it has to be the 1995 version for me. Love covers in that style.
It is an attractive cover, isn’t it?
I think the 1995 Penguin edition is my favorite, it is traditional but I think it works for this book. Great choice, Sarah!
Thank you, Tammy:). Yes – it is an attractive cover…
The penguin cover seems the most attractive to me
The penguin cover seems a solid favourite this week – have a lovely weekend, Rash:))
Thank you. Wishing you a good weekend as well
I agree with you, the first is spectacular! Many of these are close contenders, if only they had left off the text box.
I know! WHY would anyone plop a textbox on a cover, these day?? Glad you agree with me on the first cover, Laura – I do think it’s spectacular…
I picked Heart of Darkness this week too! I love both the green heart one and your favorite one! (I actually picked the same one as you on my post ❤ )
You know what they say about great minds, don’t you:))
I love the 1995 by Penguin, but the style and colors kind of make the book look more whimsical and light than it really is. Still, I love the illustration!
That’s a fair point – light and whimsical it isn’t!
Ooooooooooo, and I love the shapes of two people reaching for each other from the split heart halves. That is truly unique compared to the boat covers. Love that one!
Yes – it’s a really strong design, isn’t it?
YES!
The last cover is indeed the best: the dramatic contrast between two basic colors and the starkness of it all are quite eye-catching, because often the most simple themes are the most effective ones as well… 🙂
Yes – it’s a really strong design… What can I say? I’m a child of the 60s!
I don’t care for any of them and was not able to finish the book. LOL
I’m not sure if I would be able to get through it these days – I recall it being rather bleak…
Ooh, I love that Penguin cover – I have no idea if it fits the book but it’s so good.
Lynn 😀
It is awesome, isn’t it?
I honestly don’t know which is my favourite. They are all so different. I wouldn’t even think these were all the same book. But I love your description of the text box being a big black carbuncle. 😃
Thank you, Carla:). Not that I get carried away and OTT in my reactions towards these covers. At all…
I enjoy these posts. I love covers and often choose my books based on the cover.
Yes – so do I!
I have to say, while I appreciate the concept of the first cover, the execution left me somewhat backpedaling from it (so this time we’re opposites again 😉 ). I do have a soft spot for Penguin’s classic take, but the one that really caught my eye was the Italian one.
That Italian cover is really clever, isn’t it?
Yes! It also has a “classic” feel to it which I think is great for this kind of book.