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Design Category
Book design, 2003
Design firm
University of California Press (Berkeley, California)
Collection
(2004) 50 Books/50 Covers of 2003
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The objective was to present a little-known and never before published play by Mark Twain. Hilarious plots involve a full-scale fake funeral, cross-dressing, and lovers’ deceptions. The book needed to be easy to navigate as a play script and exhibit a sense of humor befitting Mark Twain’s social satire. Barry Moser’s drawings were juxtaposed against panels of red to help define the periods of transition between acts.
“Our jury paid particular attention to how a book sits in the hand. This one does so with grace. It’s an excellent example of a well-wrought work of fiction on a university price budget. Unfortunately, the cover and title page underwhelm.” Cheryl Towler Weese