An investigation into the art form of adult fiction illustration within printed book format, its place within contemporary publishing markets and the evaluation of a possible niche or trend.

Book Illustration has existed in some form or another since the written word. More specifically, the practice of publishing adult fiction accompanied by representational images is strongly linked with the 18th and 19th century Western literature and the rise of the novel (Russell 2016).

However, the practice of book publishing and illustration alongside text in adult literature has seen a mayor decline and book illustration has become increasingly associated with children’s literature. Research shows that illustration published with adult fiction diverted throughout the 19th and 20th century and floured to mainstream publishing, magazines, journals etc. where it was increasingly treated as an adjunct of design rather than a fully-fledged discipline in its own right (Poynor, 2010).

This dissertation is an investigation into the art form of adult fiction illustration within printed book format, its place within contemporary publishing markets and the evaluation of a possible niche or trend.