Back in the day, many mystery covers were decorated with views of attractive women in various forms of acute (and occasionally not so acute) distress (okay, some of them looked as if all they were suffering from was a bad headache, but still...). Supposedly, women in peril artwork (still popular today, let's face it) serves to entice the book-buying public. Though I've often found this selling point a bit confusing since it's well known that women read and buy more mysteries and perils of pauline stories than men do. (At least I remember reading this somewhere.) And why would women be attracted to covers which showcase their fair sex in anguished scenarios? (Whether the cover has anything to do with the actual story within is a question for another day.)
One would think that a cowering dame on the cover would turn off the female purchaser. But apparently not.
Maybe back then men were, in general, the major book-buying target. Though that doesn't explain the many MANY gothic romance covers showing women running from houses in the dead of night SO popular in the 50's and 60's.
It's all a muddle to me and that is why I am not a publishing kingpin.
P.S. I've only read two of the books in this post, Agatha Christie's DESTINATION UNKNOWN (aka SO MANY STEPS TO DEATH) and Christianna Brand's DEATH OF JEZEBEL and yes, both were women in peril stories - though one more than the other. Both by the way, are highly recommended by me.
Great stuff Yvette - with your love of art and mysteries you should really do more of these chum - not that I'm complaining! I can confirm that the Arley is very much a WIP story, and not a very good novel, but the Gardner really doesn't qualify, everyone is just too hardboiled! I love the Frances Crane cover :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sergio. I love doing these posts - maybe I will take your advice and do more. :) The Frances Crane cover is one of my favorites too. And I love THE GAZEBO headache-y one. :)
DeleteI think I may have had a few of these, or ones like them back in the day. Too bad I donated all those old paperbacks to charity!
ReplyDeleteWell, we can only store so many books after all. :) Even after giving away tons of my books when I moved down to N.C., I still probably have too many. Oh well, I'll just have to find a place for them.
DeleteI know that I am drawn to those covers. I want to know where she bought that dress or how much the pearls cost. LOL
ReplyDeleteWell, who doesn't? HA! Know what you mean, Pat. Those were the days when women Dressed with a capital D. :)
DeleteWhat atmospheric covers!
ReplyDeleteI agree, that's what I love about them. :)
DeleteThe top one is my favorite. I am glad Sergio pointed out the Frances Crane that I had missed, I would like to find that one (with that cover). A lovely group of covers. The Key with the man in the mirror is also very nice.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that top one is pretty good, Tracy. Actually, I like all these covers or I wouldn't have featured them in the post. But as I mentioned (I think) I like the THE GAZEBO one just because the lady looks as if all that's bothering her is a bad headache. Makes me smile. But I think the Frances Crane one is a doozy as well.
DeleteMy favorite is Patricia Wentworth's The Case is Closed. "Kids, if you try to talk to me again while I'm on the phone, I'll shoot you!"
ReplyDeleteHaHA!! Yes!
DeleteI remember these covers back in my high school days, but worse were the paperback covers with women victims, gory, bloody. Those were the Mickey Spillane/Mike Hammer books. I refused to read any of them.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think the Ellery Queen mystery magazine could have gory covers with women victims.
No gory-ness here, Kathy. Just plenty of beauties caught up in perilous circumstances (mostly of their own making, but let's not judge too severely). Ha!
DeleteYvette, I often buy paperbacks only because of covers like these, even though I might not read the books for a long time. It's like finding treasure, which in my neck of the woods really is.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, shortly after I read and commented on your review of Patricia Wentworth's "Grey Mask," I received an email from a publisher containing a free ebook of "Who Pays the Piper?" with an open invitation to more. Imagine that!
Great news, Prashant. What a coincidence. I like a free ebook when I can get one or find one online. WHO PAYS THE PIPER is a Wentworth book featuring another of her creations, Ernest Lamb. Let us know how you liked it. I've never heard of it, but checked online.
DeleteI'm guilty of buying an old book because of its cover as well. Sometimes that's the best part. :)
Nice collection. Where did you find another copy of The Empty House by Irina Karlova!!! Just kidding. I know that's my photo. Actually Darrell Johnson's photo he sent me to use on my post about that book.
ReplyDeleteThe Vagabond Virgin dame just looks sort of bored. Hardly in peril. Like her eyes have glazed over from driving for hours at night on boring Ohio highways. I know that feeling! :^)
The illustration on the cover of Death of Jezebel has nothing to do with the novel! The murder victims are killed on stage. The artwork looks more suited for another Brand mystery TOUR DE FORCE, though the hand on the door would not be accurate for that either.
I know, I know, I didn't attribute any of the photos this time around. I do try to, ordinarily. That's why I like THE VAGABOND VIRGIN, I hoped I was being facetious. Well, actually, in THE DEATH OF JEZEBEL, don't forget that the young heroine was accosted in her apartment at some point in the novel. But I don't remember what she was wearing. Still, you are quite right, the murder takes place on stage in a make believe kind of 'castle' tower or contraption.
DeleteLike many others I donated many of these books, even the ones with maps on the back, when I moved. Drat!
ReplyDelete