LOUISE PENNY’S

Gamache Goes Abroad: Still Life

Gamache Goes Abroad: Still Life

Still Life ss

wcag heading

ALL THE DEVILS ARE HERE finds our dear Inspector in France so there’s no better place to kick off our “Gamache Goes Abroad” cover musings than en français! 

And, wow, the current U.S. cover treatment of Still Life couldn’t be any different from how our French colleagues handled the look of the book. While we opted for a subtle nod to the title — the art genre that dates back to the Egyptians — the French took a more severe route, depicting a key plot point (no spoilers, please!). It’s noteworthy that both covers feature framed imagery which could symbolize a window, or, entryway, into the series. 

What do you think?

Which cover do you gravitate towards?

219 replies on “Gamache Goes Abroad: Still Life”

I like the US cover, just as I like the US titles. I guess I’m a traditionalist at heart.

American version. I like the colors more and the French version tells me there’s a fawn that’s wandering about hurting. I would not have even picked it up.

I gravitate towards the American cover but I have to say that the French cover is a bit unnerving. Look at the expression on that knowing deer’s face. It gives me the willies!

Of these two I have a slight preference for the English version, but I really prefer an earlier cover that was a bit darker and featured conifers, with three pines in a group clearly silhouetted against the sky.

I prefer the US version. It looks like the deer has a bullet hole in it’s head in the French version. I’m a softie. Not keen on dead animal imagery.

While I normally prefer the French version of anything – in this case, the U.S. version. It’s more aesthetically pleasing, softer – a reminder of the gentleness of the victim (though, considering her art work, this would not be her favorite) And while the deer could serve that same function, its depiction here is hard, that gash only serving to “hollow out” the deer. And why the fence?
These are fun to compare. And interesting, too, that the translation of the title is an exact one.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The owner of this website has made a commitment to accessibility and inclusion, please report any problems that you encounter using the contact form on this website. This site uses the WP ADA Compliance Check plugin to enhance accessibility.