Sometimes, I Wonder if I Accidentally Tipped JD Salinger Over the Edge.
This story is true and goes back to 2008 when John Hamilton at Penguin commissioned me to design the book jackets for JD Salinger's entire back catalogue.
Salinger was alive then and, by all accounts, a belligerent and grumpy recluse in his early 90s. The chain of command was unusual. Salinger directed all his feedback via his New York lawyer, who then communicated with his London lawyer, who then communicated with Penguin, who then communicated with me, in my little studio in North London. And back the same way. This process was somewhat intimidating, and must have cost him a fucking fortune.
John told me Salinger was a very sensitive and emotional man and had always hated the first book jacket design for 'The Catcher in the Rye'. He had instructed Penguin to redesign the jackets using lettering only. "No pictures!" Salinger had stated. That's when John thought of me.
I designed three options, and Salinger chose the third — bespoke Roman Capitals with minimal and carefully considered flourishing to add a touch of refined grace and unify the set. Salinger was apparently shown the designs and signed them off himself, making only one change to the Catcher jacket, raising the junction on the 'Y' in 'Rye', which he felt made it more legible.
A day later, Salinger died. John said signing off the jackets was probably Salinger's last creative decision.
To this day, I sometimes lie in bed at night wondering if the surprise of my stark and avante-garde new covers for his life's work tipped Mr. Salinger over the edge. I hope to fuck not. I have thought about this once a week since 2009 and I want to get it off my chest. Rest in Peace, Mr Salinger and what a privilege for me to be involved in a project of such magnitude.
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