For certain corners of the internet, there’s been a persistent mystery surrounding a 1976 paperback edition of Madeleine L’Engle’s novel “A Wrinkle in Time.” Who was the artist responsible for its eerie and luminous green cover art? It took some diligent research for podcast host Amory Sivertson to finally uncover the truth behind it. After reaching out to a gallery that represented an artist she believed to be the one behind the cover, she ended up receiving a correction rather than confirmation. It took months of emails and awkward phone calls before the correct artist’s name was discovered.
The mysterious cover art features a muscular centaur with delicate wings soaring above a menacing green face with bright red eyes. The figures are surrounded by rugged mountains and billowy dark clouds, making it a truly haunting image. The artist’s name remains elusive within the pages of the book itself. However, for Sivertson, it was essential to credit the artist given that the artwork remains ingrained in the hearts, memories, and bookshelves of readers. In her words, it’s a piece that “outlives him,” so uncovering the truth was of utmost importance.
Sivertson came across the mystery as the co-host and senior producer of the “Endless Thread” podcast, which explores various enigmas. On the show, produced by Boston’s NPR station WBUR, Sivertson and her co-host, Ben Brock Johnson, tackle mysteries like Geedis, a warthog-like character that captivated the internet, and a heap of discarded plates in the Pennsylvania woods. In the case of the book art mystery, the podcast continued where S. Elizabeth, the blogger behind “Unquiet Things,” had left off.
Elizabeth’s curiosity about the artist behind the “Wrinkle in Time” cover art sparked in 2019. It grew further while she worked on her latest book, “The Art of Fantasy,” set to release on Thursday. In May, she published a blog post detailing her search for the artist, hoping it would generate new leads. Elizabeth reached out to individuals connected to the novel, the fantasy art world, and even Madeleine L’Engle’s granddaughter on the social media platform X. However, the latter only responded with a shrug emoji, leaving Elizabeth empty-handed. Seeking assistance, she posted about the search on Reddit, where a commenter suggested it would be a perfect fit for “Endless Thread.” Consequently, Elizabeth shared her plea for help on the podcast’s subreddit.
Elizabeth didn’t have a deep personal connection to the book. Initially, her strongest recollection of the novel was its mention of a liverwurst sandwich – a detail that caught her attention as a food enthusiast. Nonetheless, she felt strongly about ensuring proper recognition for artists. The search for the artist’s identity struck a chord with many online, who sent Elizabeth their guesses and tips. She mentioned that the difficulty faced in finding the artist ignited a fire within people due to the book’s impact on their lives.
While many people made guesses, it was Sivertson’s persistent efforts that ultimately led to the answer. Numerous calls allowed her to reconnect an entire industry that had worked in publishing and illustration during the 1970s but had lost touch over the years. Finally, in late June, she discovered the correct name: Richard Bober. Although Mr. Bober had passed away the previous year, Sivertson managed to speak with his relatives in early July, who provided evidence confirming that he was indeed the artist behind the cover.
The resolution of the mystery brought Elizabeth to the brink of tears. Even with Sivertson’s determined pursuit, finding the answer seemed like a long shot. Elizabeth had previously encountered Mr. Bober’s work in “Lady Vampire,” which portrayed a vampire girl resembling a snobbish and mean girl, with an adoring dog by her side. She fondly remembered thinking, “This artist is so cool.”
While the cover art mystery has been solved, Elizabeth still has an extensive list of unanswered questions. She hopes to uncover the identity of the artist who created the cover for the next book in L’Engle’s series, “A Wind in the Door.” Additionally, every year on social media, she posts a photo from what seems to be the 1920s, depicting a topless woman adorned with an enormous headdress. She remains hopeful that someone will be able to identify the woman and provide concrete proof.
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