The cover design, by the talented graphic designer David Provolo, is meant to evoke some of the themes of the novel. First of all, this is a political novel in the tradition of Gore Vidal hence the icon of the symbol for the state of South Carolina. Secondly, one of the themes of the book is of being different, not quite fitting into any pre-ordained category and the cover art is meant to suggest that the protagonist, Carter Ridge, is a bit of a mystery. He has carefully created a public image of himself, like a mosaic, piecing together elements that project a certain message, a distinct idea of who wants to be, but revealing little about who he actually is.
I’m excited to share this with y’all.
It wonderfully captures the complexity of the puzzle that is Carter Ridge’s life, navigating the tumultuous early 1960s.
