Whether happily or not, the not so distant past when women's lives were almost entirely domestic, means that there is often an implicit familiarity and appreciation of textiles by and for women. To that end it is hardly surprising that the trail-blazing feminist publishing company, Virago books, has chosen a selection of textile designers to design book covers for their
Modern Classics series.

The series has included cover designs by
Eley Kishimoto (Molly Keane’s
Good Behaviour) and
Celia Birtwell – perfectly twinned with a series of
Elizabeth Taylor novels. More recently one of our favourite designers,
Neisha Crosland has worked her magic on Virago's re-publishing of some of
Daphne du Maurier's best-loved titles.
![DON'T LOOK NOW[1]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1395/5787/files/blog_DONT-LOOK-NOW1.jpg?10181158413596242572)
“I suppose I am a bit like a biologist who collects specimens. I collect ideas and motifs and classify them in to designs. I love the way nature organises itself. I take inspiration from the way a plant organises its leaves, petals and stamens. I love the way that colour dictates a mood, and how repeat conducts the rhythm in a pattern. I love relocating motifs and putting them into a new context. Flat pattern and how it is applied to three-dimensional form fascinates me.” - Neisha Crosland. Find out more about the history of
Virago books and where to find them through their
website.
The Birds and
Don't Look Now are Virago's latest du Maurier releases in collaboration with Neisha Crosland and are priced at £14.99 each.
Read more about Neisha Crosland and her work in the
Launch and
Hibernate issues of Selvedge magazine.
www.neishacrosland.com
www.virago.co.uk
Sorry, not sure if that link worked – try this web address if not: http://www.selvedge.org/blog/?p=14633
Aren’t they! And yes, we’re big fans of Persephone books – here’s a blog post we did on them not too long ago. Hope you enjoy!
These covers are gorgeous. Have you come across Persephone Books who publish out of print mostly women authors with lovely book papers inside front and back?
[…] by award-winning textiles designer Neisha Crosland – find out more about them on the gorgeous Selvedge […]
[…] by award-winning textiles designer Neisha Crosland – find out more about them on the gorgeous Selvedge […]