Last month I really enjoyed gathering together all my Madam, Will You Talk? book covers in one place, and it was great to learn some readers’ thoughts on favourite illustrations. (That post is here.)

So today I am writing a similar post on Wildfire at Midnight, Mary Stewart’s second published novel. You can find out more about the novel Wildfire at Midnight by going to its ‘Page’ (via Bibliography above or in the sidebar); you might also want to play about with the search facility or go to Wildfire at Midnight under Categories – there are about a half dozen posts with a link to this novel. Today’s post is all about the wonderful cover art – or perhaps, weird and wonderful cover art – over different editions of the novel.

1956, Hodder & Stoughton, UK, first edition: You can see the illustrator’s signature, Eleanor Poore – she also illustrated Madam, Will You Talk?, Thunder on the Right and Nine Coaches Waiting. This cover image does not really accord with my idea of the feel or look of Camasunary Bay on the Isle of Skye and I am not keen on all that brown but I am very fond of this book for other reasons: as I blogged before (here), the inner cover of this book has labels that show my copy was once a W H Smith library book; I like that the book price was ’10s 6d net’, whatever that translates to and however it relates to wages of the time; the book cover also informs us about Mary Stewart’s parentage and education – schools as well as university – in relentlessly middle-class fashion; and there are lovely review quotes on her first novel from authors including Margery Allingham and Patricia Wentworth.

 

Wildfire at Midnight. Hodder 1st edn, 1956. Illustr: Eleanor Poore
From Mary Stewart’s Wildfire at Midnight – W H Smith & Son’s library book ‘Thriller 47’

 

1963, Hodder paperback edition, second impression of new edition: I like this cover, Gianetta looks very pensive – and, correctly, she is red-haired. The headscarf and gloves combo are I suppose of their time but suggest rather cold temperatures to me. Their clean, bold colours contrast well with the smudgy flames and smoke behind her.

 

1965, Hodder paperback edition, fifth impression: I have to admit my copy of this book is in poor condition, with its roughly torn corner, but I can’t part with it. I would guess that the author was not pleased by the pink hues of this cover, and Gianetta’s hair is the wrong colour but it does look gloriously, authentically windswept. Also the hotel looks suitably remote and it is dark night: I think this is nicely atmospheric book art.

 

1968, Nelson Doubleday Inc, omnibus The Spell of Mary Stewart, including Wildfire at Midnight: if you read my blog regularly, you will know that I adore this cover, illustrated by Herb Mott – look here to see my tote bag and locket that feature this book cover. So Gothic, so purple, so fab!

 

The Spell of Mary Stewart, Nelson Doubleday Inc, 1968. Illustr: Herb Mott
The Spell of Mary Stewart – Wildfire. Illustr Herb Mott?

 

1969 Hodder paperback edition, eighth impression: again, I like this cover with its brooding sky and mountains. Gianetta’s leg seems to be at a rather improbable angle, or there is something odd about how she clutches it with both hands. The skirt too looks all wrong with its white squares: how stiff would the material have to be for none of the squares to look mis-shapen or to have folded in on themselves? But I love the attitude that has Gianetta, a fashion model, wear pink, brown, green, white, and quite ugly blue shoes – and unlike our earlier cover art, Gianetta is not looking away, she is staring straight back at us.

 

1969, Hodder & Stoughton, Mary Stewart Omnibus 1: Admittedly, this is a dated cover (and not in a good way) and the title is so unimaginative. What makes this book a favourite for me is its four-page preface by Mary Stewart. An interesting snippet:

Wildfire at Midnight was an attempt at something different, the classic closed-room detective story, with restricted action, a biggish cast, and a closely circular plot. It taught me technically a great deal, but mainly that the detective story , with its emphasis on plot rather than people, is not for me. What mattered to me was not the mystery, but the choice Gianetta Drury faces between personal and larger loyalties.

 

1978, Heinemann/Octopus omnibus: Hmm. What can I say? The best things about this book are that we are told the illustrator’s name – Robert Estall – and there is a photo of Mary Stewart on the back cover. Otherwise: awful colours and fonts, images that don’t match the books, and it is too heavy to comfortably pick up and read.

 

Mary Stewart omnibus 1978. Published by Heinemann/Octopus. Jacket design: Robert Estall
Back cover of Heinemann Octopus omnibus 1978

 

1980, Coronet paperback edition, eighteenth impression: what do you think of this book cover? I think the author name is in too large and heavy a font for the size of the paperback, and I am not convinced about the colours in the image: the red rock looks more Australian or American than Scottish. I like this cover, particularly the cloud and sky of the image, but it’s not a favourite one for me.

 

2011, Hodder paperback. As I have stated before, I’m not hugely keen on the 2011 set of Mary Stewarts, I think the original Gerd Hartung fashion illustrations look much better with background and context – look here to see what I mean. This cover illustration is ©Robyn Neild, ©Gerd Hartnung/akg-images.

Wildfire

 

Finally, here is a cover that I don’t yet have in my collection of the latest UK paperbacks, the 2017 Hodder: a simply gorgeous cover from font to landscape and lone figure in a boat – a tranquil scene if you don’t realise the meaning of the smoke…

 

Those, then, are my Wildfire at Midnight book covers, almost all are UK covers and most possess charm of some sort. Which one is your favourite? Do you have a better cover? Please get in touch and let me know!

Cryssa Bazos, author of Traitor’s Knot, has kindly sent a photo of her copy of Wildfire at Midnight for me to share. Isn’t this atmospheric? Look at those heels! And I can’t begin to express how much I love the line ‘Terror in the Hitchcock manner’. Thanks, Cryssa!

cryssa wildfire