[2026] Vile Bodies, by Evelyn Waugh

[David]

I'm trying to come up with a decent cover for this PD Day project, and not *entirely* happy with what I've found so far. Any of these *could* work, I think. The easiest thing to find is a period-correct portrait of a woman, and ##1 and 2 are in that category. The novel is very much alcohol-fuelled, and #3 reflects that. The tone/feel of the novel is very much art-deco and dissipation, and #4 is intended to capture that (although it is ostensibly the painting of a skater):

1. https://www.si.edu/object/necklace:saam_1953.10.7
2. https://standardebooks.org/artworks/frank-weston-benson/reflection
3. https://standardebooks.org/artworks/peder-severin-kroyer/hip-hip-hurrah (crop needs to be seen)
4. https://standardebooks.org/artworks/felix-del-marle/les-six-jours-ou-la-patineuse

I think #4 is my personal favourite, so far. Possibly "The Laugh" from our DB could also work:
https://standardebooks.org/artworks/umberto-boccioni/the-laugh

I've put mockups of ##1-4 online for those interested. Any reactions or further recommendations gratefully received!

David / Fife, UK

[David]

I "mocked-up" "The Laugh" as #5 at the link provided. It's pretty good, IMO... (the main "face" could easily be Mrs. Melrose Ape).

On Saturday, 18 October 2025 at 12:04:53 UTC+1 David wrote:

. . . 

[Alex Cabal]

I think they all work well enough, let me know which one you select.

On 10/18/25 10:36 AM, David wrote:
> I "mocked-up" "The Laugh" as #5 at the link provided. It's pretty good,
> IMO... (the main "face" could easily be Mrs. Melrose Ape).
>
> On Saturday, 18 October 2025 at 12:04:53 UTC+1 David wrote:
>
> . . .
>
> I think #4 is my personal favourite, so far. Possibly "The Laugh"
> from our DB could also work:
> https://standardebooks.org/artworks/umberto-boccioni/the-laugh
> <https://standardebooks.org/artworks/umberto-boccioni/the-laugh>
>

> I've put mockups of ##1-4 online <https://www.sudalyph.org/seci/
> vile/covers.html> for those interested. Any reactions or further

> recommendations gratefully received!
>
> David / Fife, UK
>
>

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[Robin Whittleton]

For what it’s worth, I asked my partner who’s a Vile Bodies fan, and she went for the fifth as being her pick.

-Robin

> On 19 Oct 2025, at 17:41, Alex Cabal <al...@standardebooks.org> wrote:
>
> I think they all work well enough, let me know which one you select.

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> To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/standardebooks/85ebc11f-0148-4f68-835d-056f0f1c5128%40standardebooks.org.

[David Reimer]

I was hoping to hear from a "Waugh fan" :) and as it happens, #5,
"The Laugh", the last one I found, has steadily been growing on me.
https://standardebooks.org/artworks/umberto-boccioni/the-laugh

Let's go with that one, then! And thanks for the feedback.

On Sun, 19 Oct 2025 at 17:26, Robin Whittleton wrote:
>
> For what it’s worth, I asked my partner who’s a Vile Bodies fan, and she went for the fifth as being her pick.
>
> -Robin
>