Penguin Graham Greenes by Paul Hogarth

A job lot of vintage Penguin paperbacks and the Paul Hogarth covers that make them special.

I was recently able to pick up a job lot of Vintage Penguin books from Ebay, the fantastic thing was they were a large set of books by Graham Greene. Graham Greene’s books were illustrated by Paul Hogarth for a number of years starting in the 1970’s and 80’s. Hogarths obituary in the independant said…

They are characteristically simple colour drawings which manage to capture a mood – whether of menace or anxiety or general seediness and invariably set in an exotic location – true to the writer’s work.

Paul Hogarth cover of Stamboul Train

Paul Hogarth cover of It's a Battlefield

Paul Hogarth cover of The Ministry of Fear

Hogarth was a prolific commercial artist and draftsman, he painted a huge range of locations and was well known for the volume of production.

I’m particularly a fan of “The Power and the Glory” and “Travel Without Maps” for there very simplistic cartoon’esque feel.

Penguin by Designers (page 109-111) has an interesting section of Panguin, Paul and Graham’s back and forth as Graham tried to get his books published without illustrations, apparently something that was all the rage and considered stylish.

Another view of the Stamboul Train cover

Paul Hogarth cover of Ways of Escape

Paul Hogarth cover of The Quiet American

Paul Hogarth cover of Travels with My Aunt

First published on jpsykes.com.