iconic: famous or well-known for its time
float: to be up in the air; not resting on the ground
manuscript: the written text of a book
incorporate: to add in; to combine
element: an aspect or detail
adage: a proverb, a short statement of truth
The Cover That Came Before the Book
The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is one of the most famous books in American literature. It also has one of the most iconic book covers. The cover, designed by Francis Cugat, features two sad eyes and some bright red lips floating on a background of night sky. Before the manuscript was complete, the artist designed a cover based on an early conversation with Fitzgerald’s editor, Max Perkins. The writer saw the cover and incorporated some important elements of it into his story. This brings new meaning to the adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
