Roger Payne was responsible for some of the great book cover artwork published by the Companion Book Club in the 1960s. These books were part of a popular tradition of book club editions designed to bring a cheaper alternative to the first edition and for me, many were better than the true firsts.

Each edition came with an eye catching cover and a leaflet promoting the following month’s publication along with similar artwork. Roger Payne, along with fellow contributing artists Mike Charlton, Barry Wilkinson, Michael Heslop and Eric Rowe, would prove to be the last in a golden age of book cover art before the dreaded photographic covers of the seventies cheapened the look and feel of these wonderful books.

Born in Birmingham, England, Payne moved to London, studied at St Martins School of Art and became a prolific artist for both adult and children’s fiction and non fiction books. Payne had a unique style and gift for depicting a books theme within a single illustration. His scope was broad, many of his illustrations depicted historical scenes for educational purposes but for me, his book covers are a wonderfully nostalgic reminder of a great period in 20th century culture.

Payne’s artwork for the Companion Book Club is instantly recognisable from the rest, bold and dramatic, he captured the sense of action and drama in thrillers such as Alistair Maclean’s When Eight Bells Toll and Force Ten from Navarone.

There is sadly, little information about Payne and what there is appears to be somewhat confused. There are still copies of these books available and mostly still quite cheap. Are all of the novels worth a read? Probably not, but who can resist covers like these!!

Further reading

Mike Charlton- Artist

Alistair MacLean Book Club Editions

All Men are Lonely Now