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Original poster

Favourite book covers of all time.

34 replies

FeliciaFancybottom · 02/08/2026 15:28

I thought it might be fun to share our most favourite book covers of all time.
My first one is The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw. It's absolutely stunning in real life, though possibly not to everyone's taste.

Favourite book covers of all time.
OP posts:
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tobee · Today 04:25

Jungfraujoch · 06/08/2026 08:12

I can still see it in my old desk at high school.

That book conjures up memories of going to the children’s department of the local library; the books were usually covered in a slightly blurry plastic wrapping. You got given coloured card disc tokens (3 I think?) and that was your passport to exchange for new titles to read; yours for 3 weeks.

I occasionally try to find old library books - especially ones i remember getting out from the library myself. Love to smell their smell, see the date stamps on the sheet on the frontispeice, the slightly foxed edges.

They would often have great illustrations as well.

Original poster
FeliciaFancybottom · Yesterday 17:01

clary · Yesterday 16:45

Great thread!

I have a secret passion for the Tom Adams 1970s Fontana covers of Agatha Christie novels (it sounds niche but I am not alone) and this is a favourite – rather disturbing but iconic.

ETA I should read properly I see a PP has aready mentioned him haha

Edited

Oooo, that's creepy, I love it.

OP posts:
Purplebunnie · Yesterday 16:54

@Bichette I read and had all these books, loved them.

@Waawo and @Jungfraujoch I didn't have either of these covers. I need to go and find my copy. It probably needs a re-read - it's been a while

clary · Yesterday 16:50

The Great Gatsby is one of my very favourite books, but I really do not like the cover with the eyes on the blue background you see so often. So here is my OG copy (OG for me at least) from about 1982

Favourite book covers of all time.
clary · Yesterday 16:45

Great thread!

I have a secret passion for the Tom Adams 1970s Fontana covers of Agatha Christie novels (it sounds niche but I am not alone) and this is a favourite – rather disturbing but iconic.

ETA I should read properly I see a PP has aready mentioned him haha

Favourite book covers of all time.
Dappy777 · Yesterday 16:39

When I was at my sixth form in the 1990s, Penguin used to publish a 20th-century classics range. They were gorgeous books with a lime green back and a photo that took up the entire front cover. I loved them. They published everyone from Virginia Woolf and D H Lawrence to Evelyn Waugh and Aldous Huxley. I still look out for them now. We had to study Capote's In Cold Blood, and I can see the cover to this day.

Waawo · 06/08/2026 19:54

Jungfraujoch · 06/08/2026 08:12

I can still see it in my old desk at high school.

Love that edition of The Hobbit. I have the Esperanto edition, "La Hobito," which has the same cover.

In school I read this version, which is nice too, but gives main billing to Smaug...

Favourite book covers of all time.
Jungfraujoch · 06/08/2026 08:12

I can still see it in my old desk at high school.

Favourite book covers of all time.
Bichette · 06/08/2026 08:07

Not particularly for the artwork, but this book cover brings back lovely memories for me

Favourite book covers of all time.
tobee · 05/08/2026 23:53

Hmm, now I wonder what I’m remembering? I’ve got a book about Ladybird Books somewhere!

Original poster
FeliciaFancybottom · 05/08/2026 12:46

tobee · 04/08/2026 19:15

IIRC when Roxy ill fatedly married Alfie in Eastenders (many Moons ago, geddit?) the costume department gave her a wedding dress very much of a similar flavour to that dress.

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I'm not seeing any resemblance to Cinderella's dress.

OP posts:
Original poster
FeliciaFancybottom · 05/08/2026 12:45

SaraCrewe06 · 05/08/2026 07:48

@FeliciaFancybottomMy comment was tongue in cheek. It’s a very icky image….for me.

I knew it wouldn't be to everyone's taste, but I didn't want to make anyone ill, though 😂

I do love the Ladybird Cinderella cover; I read that book over and over as a child. The illustrations are stunning.

OP posts:
SaraCrewe06 · 05/08/2026 07:48

@FeliciaFancybottomMy comment was tongue in cheek. It’s a very icky image….for me.

JaneJeffer · 04/08/2026 20:45

tobee · 04/08/2026 19:15

IIRC when Roxy ill fatedly married Alfie in Eastenders (many Moons ago, geddit?) the costume department gave her a wedding dress very much of a similar flavour to that dress.

Show quote history

I enjoyed your pun @tobee but I googled the dress and it’s grey 😱 not blue. Ronnie’s floating wedding dress of doom was more memorable for me. I stopped watching after they killed Ronnie and Roxy off. Unforgivable!

Favourite book covers of all time.
Favourite book covers of all time.
tobee · 04/08/2026 19:15

JaneJeffer · 04/08/2026 16:47

I loved all the illustrations in that one. The blue dress is imprinted in my brain 😆

Show quote history

IIRC when Roxy ill fatedly married Alfie in Eastenders (many Moons ago, geddit?) the costume department gave her a wedding dress very much of a similar flavour to that dress.

MyyearwithBarbara · 04/08/2026 17:01

On her thread - My year with Stella - @Waawo has posted lots of gorgeous covers.

MyyearwithBarbara · 04/08/2026 16:57

I loved the book posted by @friggingnora

And this

Favourite book covers of all time.
JaneJeffer · 04/08/2026 16:47

friggingnora · 04/08/2026 15:29

This Ladybird classic.

I loved all the illustrations in that one. The blue dress is imprinted in my brain 😆

friggingnora · 04/08/2026 15:29

This Ladybird classic.

Favourite book covers of all time.
Original poster
FeliciaFancybottom · 04/08/2026 15:16

SaraCrewe06 · 04/08/2026 11:16

Agreed. OP’s cover is making me feel genuinely ill 😂

Genuinely ill in what way?

OP posts:
SaraCrewe06 · 04/08/2026 11:16

Agreed. OP’s cover is making me feel genuinely ill 😂

DeanElderberry · 04/08/2026 10:50

So - someone in Mumsnet is genuinely offended by and/or scared of the original cover. I suggest you google it - it's much stronger than the green version.

DeanElderberry · 04/08/2026 10:42

DeanElderberry · 04/08/2026 09:13

Another one that fascinated me as a pre-teen looking at my mother's copy, though I didn't read it until a few years later. Reminded of it by some twit on another thread accusing women of not being feminists. An iconic image that has not been bettered. A classic book.

What? Why has the cover of one of the foundational feminist texts been censored? Sold openly in bookshops since 1970. An image that has been adapted for new editions.

Are iconic and influential feminist images unacceptable? If so why? Who is afraid of them?

Favourite book covers of all time.
utahsainthood · 04/08/2026 09:29

Adding the famous five - think this is one of the original covers by Eileen Soper?

Favourite book covers of all time.
utahsainthood · 04/08/2026 09:22

Great thread! Will think of some to add!