Allen & Unwin
Award for Best General Cover 2026
Finalist
Cover Designer: Todd Atticus
Title: The Book of Guilt
Publisher: Te Herenga Waka University Press
Format: 234 x 153 mm, 400pp, thread sewn.
Typography: Cover: Dunbar Tall, size 10.383/20.157pt, medium, bold italic
Boston, size 12pt, leading 15pt, Semibold, Semibold Italtic
Publisher’s Brief:
“Todd Atticus was supplied with the cover illustration and tasked to design a cover using it, while staying in line with his designs for Catherine Chidgey’s previous books.”
Judges’ Comments:
“Great primary colour palette which really stands out on a bookshelf. The typography is considered, complementing both the period and the illustrative style. The illustration, with its mid-century-inspired aesthetic, is deceptively cheerful, creating an unsettling sense that everything is just a little too perfect, subtly hinting at the darker themes beneath the surface. This clever juxtaposition of bright, eye-catching colour and underlying unease makes for a striking cover that stands out while capturing the novel’s sinister atmosphere.”
