The Secret History by Donna Tartt
On a campus at a New England college a group of students, under the influence of their charismatic professor, accidentally commit a terrible crime. Shocked by what they have done, they try to pretend that nothing happened — even to themselves. But when a fellow student discovers their secret and threatens to expose them, they are forced to contemplate an even darker act ...
The Secret History was first published in 1992 and became an immediate and enduring international bestseller. A compulsively readable page-turner and one of the smartest murder mysteries you will ever read, it will appeal not just to fans of crime and thrillers but to anyone who enjoys reading well-written fiction.
The brief is to design a fresh and bold new look for this cult classic in order to bring it to a new generation of readers.
Your cover design needs to include all the cover copy as supplied and be designed to the specified design template (198mm high x 129mm wide).
Tip:
It is always good to use a visual element that a reader can quickly relate to — showing a human element does this very well.
What the judges are looking for:
In essence we are looking for a striking cover design that is well executed, has an imaginative concept and clearly places the book for its market.
The winning design will need to:
- have an imaginative concept and original interpretation of the brief
- be competently executed with strong use of typography
- appeal to the broadest possible audience for the book
- show a good understanding of the marketplace
- have a point of difference from the many other book covers it is competing against
- be able to sit on the shelves of a supermarket as easily as it sits on those of more upmarket bookshops like Waterstone’s
