Endless Thread
Episodes we love: Artist Known
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- The iconic cover art of 'A Wrinkle in Time' remained uncredited for nearly 50 years before the podcast investigated and uncovered the artist's identity.
- Community engagement, particularly through online platforms like Reddit, can lead to successful collaborative investigations to solve historical mysteries.
- Recognizing artists for their work is crucial, especially when many have been historically unrecognized, shedding light on practices in the publishing industry.
- The importance of family and personal connections to art can influence how legacies are remembered and celebrated.
Summary
The Mystery of the Book Cover
The episode begins with Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sieverton introducing the mystery surrounding the iconic book cover of "A Wrinkle in Time." This cover haunts fan imaginations with its vibrant colors and eerie imagery, yet has remained unattributed for almost 50 years. The hosts discuss the popular reaction to this unresolved question, setting up the quest to identify the artist.
A Journey of Discovery
The podcast takes listeners through a detailed journey where Sarah Elizabeth, the blogger who encountered the unknown artist, sought help from the online community on Reddit to find the creator of this iconic cover. The investigation leads to various leads, missteps, and connections, with Sarah reaching out to multiple sources, including the author’s family. The hosts dive deeply into the network of connections, illustrating how the digital age can aid historical investigations.
The Artist Revealed
The mystery reaches a pivotal moment when a breakthrough occurs. Through relentless digging, Amory connects with Richard Bober's family, confirming their understanding that he created the famous cover. The emotional impact of the confirmation is explored, emphasizing the significance of acknowledging artists and their work, especially in an era when many artists went unrecognized for commercial work.
Reflection and Closure
In the closing segment, the hosts reflect on the importance of artist recognition. They discuss how the journey to uncover the artist’s identity also serves as a commentary on the broader publishing world and the need for accountability in attributing art. They invite listeners to honor Richard Bober’s work by acknowledging it in their copies of the book, ensuring his legacy lives on. The episode is dedicated to the late father of Sarah Elizabeth, an artist himself, highlighting the personal significance of the journey.
Sponsors
- Is Business Broken · a podcast from the Meirotra Institute at BU Question School of Business. When does self-regulation go too far? A recent episode looks at high stakes, anti-trust battles, and more.
Show notes
New to Endless Thread? Wooooo! We're revisiting some favorites from our archives to welcome you.
First up: The cover art for the 1976 paperback edition of Madeleine L'Engle's classic, spooky sci-fi/fantasy novel "A Wrinkle in Time" — featuring a rainbow-winged centaur and a green, glowering, red-eyed face — is iconic. And yet, for nearly 50 years, no one has known who illustrated it. Well, not NO ONE. Not anymore... Endless Thread cracks the case!
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