Blown Covers

Book excerpt: The art director of The New Yorker serves up“a delicious forbidden taste of the art that didn’t quite nail it, or nailed it a bit too hard” (The Marginalian). Françoise Mouly takes us behind the scenes at The New Yorker and reveals how the magazine creates its signature covers commenting on the most urgent political and cultural events of the day. She shows the shocking and hilarious sketches that didn’t make the cut and explains how these are essential stages in the evolution of a cover that stands the test of time but retains its edge. Her book captures contemporary history—from the farce of Monica Lewinsky to the adventures of Michelle and Barack to nuclear meltdown in Japan—in images that are as acute as they are outrageous. More than that, it shows how the magazine that exemplifies journalistic excellence in America also dares to cultivate a sense of humor when grappling with complex moral and political issues. “Interesting failures are the driving force behind Blown Covers . . . paging through this book is like standing in the corner of her office as she pins up rejected covers on the wall. Mouly has dozens of tales about images that failed for one reason or another. Now, presumably with the approval of her bosses at Condé Nast, she has created a tell-all (or tell-most) that even non–illustrators and designers will find enlightening.” —The New York Times Book Review “Yes, Blown Covers sometimes offends—and that’s the audacious joy of it.” —NPR.org “Offers some true delights.” —The Sacramento Bee “Reveals the shocking and hilarious sketches that didn’t make the cut.” —Patch