George H. Jones

George H. Jones was an artist of remarkable talent. While not as well-known as Duillo, Pino, or McGinnis, to me his work is as compelling as theirs.

I encountered Jones’ gorgeous art while reading Harlequin Historical romances as a preteen. Highland Heather and Stranger In My Arms are two exquisite examples of his covers. They are forever etched in my memory. (As we’ve reviewed/highlighted those books before, we omitted them from this week’s showcase).

Only recently did I discover who this illustrator was. Since there are many George Joneses in the world, including several artists of distinction, it took some time to track down his information.

Jones was originally from Chicago and served in the Korean War. Later on he moved with his family to Milford, CT. Jones broke into the New York City commercial art world in the 1970s. By the end of the decade, he produced illustrations for big publishers including Dell, Simon & Schuster, and Pocket Books.

Readers familiar with Silhouette Intimate Moments, Pocket Books’ Tapestry imprint, and early Harlequin Historicals should recognize his artwork. He produced covers for Fern Michaels, Janet Dailey, Nora Roberts, and many other popular authors. Jones passed away in 1993.

Jones’ use of light, bright colors (especially reds, golds, and purples), his unique brush strokes, and the hazy, dreamlike mood of his subjects combines to create memorable romantic tableaux. Whenever I come upon a new Jones cover, it is like celebrating Christmas, Halloween, and a single-digit birthday party all at once. There is no way to express the elation and admiration I feel when coming upon some never-before-seen Jones cover art.

The Covers

For the week of Monday, January 31, 2022, to Sunday, February 6, 2022, we’re delighted to display the glorious handiwork of George H. Jones.