The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. Cover art by Stephan Lavis (1980)

Perhaps the best known of all of Stephan Lavis' childrens book covers are this lot...The Narnia Chronicles.

 

 

 

 

 

Lovely work that also included the box to keep them in.

Steve

The Owl Service (1967) Book Covers Gallery

Cover art by Stephan Lavis

 

First published by Collins in 1967, The Owl Service is a fantasy novel for young adults set in modern Wales that plays with folklore and ancient myth.  Its also so much more than that and once read, somehow manages to get under the skin to haunt the mind long after the last word has been read. I suspect that this is almost entirely down to the subtle craft of the author Alan Garner.  I own three of these copies but my favourite is by far the top one by Stephen Lavis.  Lavis did some rather fantastic covers for the rest of Garner's books and also some very nice Narnia covers.  We will of course be looking at those later on. 

 

 

 

 

Steve

The Prince in Waiting Trilogy by John Christopher. Cover art by Stephen Lavis (1981)

1970

1971

 

1972

 

First published dates are beneath each of the images however these are the very handsome 1981 Puffin Books editions with cover art by Stephen Lavis.  John Christopher famously wrote the Tripods trilogy of course along with a great many other books for both children and adults.  I've read more of the latter than the former and didn't buy these until recent years.  However I do remember seeing them in the kids section of most bookshops around that time as well as featuring in the School's Bookworm book sales.  They are gorgeous, aren't they.  For me, Lavis is right up there, along with Heslop, as a leading cover star of the day.