Wesley Robins- concept cover

Enid used many illustrators in her books. Discuss them here.
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17568
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by pete9012S »

Image
I was recently asked to produce a concept cover for the relaunch of the Enid Blyton Mystery series. Many thanks to Emma at Egmont Publishing!
http://wesleyrobins.blogspot.co.uk/2013 ... uters.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

PC Goon looks a little trim compared to how the books describe him!
Although Fatty is reassuringly plump.. :D
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by Moonraker »

And they've made the usual error in thinking it was a cottage instead of a workshop that caught fire. Why wasn't it called The Mystery of the Burnt Workshop?
Society Member
User avatar
Poppy
Posts: 5725
Joined: 24 Apr 2012, 16:06
Favourite book/series: Famous Five/ Adventure Series/ Malory Towers
Favourite character: George Kirrin, Andy, Jack Trent & Diana.
Location: UK

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by Poppy »

Thanks for that, Pete. An interesting interpretation of that particular scene. I think I actually probably prefer the back cover over the front: the bit with the silhouette which is very atmospheric and alluring... I also like the colours. However the children and certainly Mr Goon are not very accurate to the text and their appearance does not really preserve the era in which the stories were written. And as Nigel said: the house is on fire and not the workshop! I suppose the title is a little bit misleading, but you would have thought the illustrator would have read the book before creating a front cover for it.
"Beware of young men with long hair - that's what dad says, isn't it?"
Pat, Holiday House


Poppy's Best of Books

Society Member
User avatar
Julie2owlsdene
Posts: 15244
Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 20:15
Favourite book/series: F.F. and Mystery Series - Five get into Trouble
Favourite character: Dick
Location: Cornwall

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

I guess the cover is colourful enough for todays children, and will hopefully sell the book.

I expect the title is confusing because anyone not having read it would think that it was a cottage that was on fire, and not a workshop. Maybe the illustrator hasn't read the book!

8)
Julian gave an exclamation and nudged George.
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"

Society Member
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by Courtenay »

Also, strangely enough, the "cottage" seems to be on fire without being consumed... any relation to Moses and the burning bush?? :shock: :wink:

("And when Goon saw this great sight, that the cottage was not consumed, he turned himself aside to see; and a voice called unto him out of the midst of the cottage, saying, Theophilus, Theophilus..."
...sorry, got a bit carried away there. Besides, this book was before Fatty learned ventriloquism. :wink: )
Society Member

It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
Tony Summerfield
Posts: 6386
Joined: 26 Dec 2004, 12:20

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by Tony Summerfield »

http://enidblytonsociety.co.uk/book-det ... nt+Cottage" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by Moonraker »

Yes, I nearly mentioned that, Tony! However, if you look at the back cover, you will see the real workshop, although (from memory) it isn't on fire!
Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26768
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Interesting. Did Egmont ask several artists to come up with possible designs in 2013, and then choose the artist they preferred? Looking in the Cave, the 2014 cover was actually illustrated by Timothy Banks.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
Farwa
Posts: 1341
Joined: 08 Jul 2014, 10:31
Favourite book/series: The Secret Island/Adventure Series/Famous Five
Favourite character: Anne Kirrin/Peggy
Location: In my imagination

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by Farwa »

I don't like the cover very much - the children (and even the policeman) looks more like a couple of cartoons from a latest TV show than respectable characters from a wonderful series! The illustrator has ridiculed the characters!Unfortunately, there are many covers like this nowadays - don't ask me why!
A day spent without a smile is a day lost.
User avatar
John Pickup
Posts: 4876
Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by John Pickup »

I don't care for the cover very much but it's this style of illustration that appeals to the new young reader and that's got to be good. Anyway, it doesn't matter whether I like it or not, I've got my hardback copy so I won't be buying it.
Society Member
User avatar
Farwa
Posts: 1341
Joined: 08 Jul 2014, 10:31
Favourite book/series: The Secret Island/Adventure Series/Famous Five
Favourite character: Anne Kirrin/Peggy
Location: In my imagination

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by Farwa »

Don't you think that it should be illustrated really well, so well, that the 'young reader' should think that's even nicer than what he wanted?
A day spent without a smile is a day lost.
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26768
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

John Pickup wrote:I don't care for the cover very much but it's this style of illustration that appeals to the new young reader and that's got to be good. Anyway, it doesn't matter whether I like it or not, I've got my hardback copy so I won't be buying it.
As we can see in the Cave (click on the link in Tony's post above), the Wesley Robins cover was never used. Timothy Banks was chosen to illustrate the latest Find-Outers covers.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
John Pickup
Posts: 4876
Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by John Pickup »

Anita Bensoussane wrote: As we can see in the Cave (click on the link in Tony's post above), the Wesley Robins cover was never used. Timothy Banks was chosen to illustrate the latest Find-Outers covers.
:oops: :oops: :oops:
Society Member
User avatar
Anita Bensoussane
Forum Administrator
Posts: 26768
Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
Location: UK

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Don't worry - it's easy enough to miss a post or two while scrolling down. I've done it myself.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


Society Member
User avatar
John Pickup
Posts: 4876
Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

Re: Wesley Robins- concept cover

Post by John Pickup »

That's very kind, Anita, but I didn't miss the post of Tony's. It just didn't register that Pete's original post wasn't chosen. :?
Society Member
Post Reply