High Adventure

This image designed by Edward Penfield, titled "High Adventure," serves as a book cover for a work by Capt. James Norman Hall. The artwork is strikingly rendered in a simple yet compelling two-tone style, using white linear outlines on a rich blue background.In the foreground, there's an intricately drawn, swirling cloud of smoke leading upwards from a stylized vignette of a town. This collection of buildings, featuring houses and possibly a church, is somewhat abbreviated but effectively captures a quaint and quiet rural or small-town scene.Above the smoke, adding an element of dynamism and modern adventure, an airplane is depicted. The presentation of the aircraft, amidst the swirling smoke, suggests an era of early aviation, which corresponds with Hall’s time and his writings that often involve excitement and historical contexts.The use of minimal color and detailed line work focuses the viewer's attention on the elements that underscore themes of adventure and discovery—central concepts in the literature of James Norman Hall. The overall design is emblematic of early 20th-century illustration, characterized by its clean lines and evocative simplicity, which Penfield is renowned for. This cover art effectively teases the sense of adventure and the historical context that readers can expect in the book’s narrative.