PAGES : When Words Are a Waste
John F. Kennedy Jr.--wearing a designer tie and regal smile--is unmistakable as Prince Charming.
That was why the publishers at Dutton decided to print the fairy tale title of Wendy Leigh’s new biography on the back cover only, leaving the front to a close-up of His Kennedyness.
“When you have a face like this, that’s so recognizable, what more do you need for a cover?” Dutton spokeswoman Jennifer Marcus explained. “Nobody is confused about what the book is about.”
The hard part, Marcus said, was deciding which photograph to use for the cover.
“I don’t know that he takes a bad shot. It was probably hard to choose from all the many good shots of him.”
It’s not the first time Dutton has chosen a cover treatment free of text. For the 30th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s death, “Marilyn: The Last Take” featured a semi-nude photo of the actress on the dust jacket.
A tear-off paper band across Monroe’s midsection displayed the title and was nicknamed the “belly-band” by Dutton staffers.
“Unfortunately we did not have a nude shot of JFK Jr. that would require a belly-band,” Marcus lamented.
Sign up for our Book Club newsletter
Get the latest news, events and more from the Los Angeles Times Book Club, and help us get L.A. reading and talking.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
