BRITAIN OF BRIAN COOK

Distinctive in its drawing and brilliant use of colour, the work of Brian Cook originally appeared on Batsford book jackets from the 1930s to the early 1950s.

These books have been enduringly popular; they are collectors items and for many were the beginning of a life-long interest in British landscape and architectural heritage.

In this volume these jackets are brought together for the first time.

In his introduction, the author describes his own background and the publishing world in which he first worked.

He is the nephew of the late Harry Batsford, chairman of the family publishing firm from 1919 to 1952.

Brian Cook outlines the genesis of the major series of books he worked on - notably "The British Heritage Series" and "The Face of Britain Series" - and he describes the "Jean Berte" printing process that gives many of these jackets their characteristic bold colours and analyzes the design principles and practical methods of his craft.

Virtually all Brian Cook's designs for jackets are here illustrated - the majority of them in colour - reproduced either from the original painting or from the finished jacket. For the benefit of book collectors, there is a checklist with bibliographical details, illustrating for reference finished jackets shown earlier as paintings.

The book also includes a wide selection of the artist's pen and ink drawings which appeared in several volumes in "The British Heritage Series".

The foreword to the book is written by Sir Hugh Casson, and the preface by Ian Logan.