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book (design) story #116

archibald joseph cronin:
james brodie – der hutmacher und sein schloss

büchergilde gutenberg, zürich, 1941
printer: unionsdruckerei bern
size: 22 x 14 cm
designer: richard paul lohse

hatter's castle (1931) was archibald jonathan cronin's (1896-1981) first novel. The book about a rich, but cruel and mad, scottish hat-maker in the 19th century was made into a film in 1941. in the same year this first german edition was published by the büchergilde zürich (see also story 60).

the design by richard paul lohse (1902-1988) tries to catch the victorian atmosphere, mocking the exaggerated ornamental style of the late 19th century which was considered decadent by the "new typography" movement: the drawing of a castle and a calligraphic title on the cover's spine, ...

.... victorian hats on the jacket, title page, and endpapers. lohse's calligraphic skills are rather impressive. the page layout is quite a contrast – clear and simple.