book design

A Modern Memoirs First: Publishing a Pair of Tête-bêche Books


As lovers of books of all shapes, sizes, and types, the Modern Memoirs staff is always on the lookout for opportunities to push the limits of conventional book design. Recently, a repeat client wished to publish a bilingual, two-volume autobiography, with each volume containing the original Chinese text and its English translation. After exploring several out-of-the-box design possibilities, Modern Memoirs ended up creating an economical, very special pair of books with an uncommon binding method called tête-bêche.

“the tête-bêche technique is used to combine two books into one”

Tête-bêche roughly translates to “head-to-foot,” with the latter part of the term from an archaic French word for "double-ended." (The French phrase “un lit bêchevet” is a related term that refers to a bed with heads at either end, and etymology ultimately traces back to the Latin “biceps,” or two-headed.) In bookbinding, the tête-bêche technique is used to combine two books into one, as the second book is rotated 180 degrees so that it is upside down and begins at the back cover. The reader can choose either side of the book to begin from, and then flip it over to read the rest.

Though tête-bêche binding is very rarely used today, you may be familiar with it if you’ve read science fiction or mystery stories published by Ace Books in the 1950s–1970s. Earlier examples date back to Europe in the 19th century (and possibly beforehand), which combine religious texts—consider, for example, having the Old and New Testaments bound in this way. Today, tête-bêche binding is most commonly used in countries with two official languages, such as Canada. Since each text in a tête-bêche book gets its own front cover and place on the spine, the style presents both texts in the same way, without implying a hierarchy of one version or language as the primary one.

“The design’s effectiveness in affirming the equal value and importance of two languages was an excellent reason for us to use tête-bêche binding for our client’s two-volume, bilingual autobiography”

The design’s effectiveness in affirming the equal value and importance of two languages was an excellent reason for us to use tête-bêche binding for our client’s two-volume, bilingual autobiography. Once translation, editorial, and design phases were complete, we worked closely with our printer affiliate to pull off the resulting complex production process. We even shipped printed, tapebound galleys for the printer to use as hard-copy mockups to ensure all of the pages in the differently oriented parts of the two books were placed correctly, and that the two “front” covers on each book were properly positioned. We were all nervous when advance copies arrived at our office, and when we unboxed them we were relieved and delighted. The books came out beautifully! Our client received lots of praise, and we were gratified that we had been able to create custom books that fit all of our client’s wants and needs.

Now we find ourselves positively bursting with ideas for other uses of tête-bêche bindings. Imagine a tête-bêche memoir about a marriage, with one side by each partner; a memoir about one’s parents or grandparents; or a genealogy for both sides of the family. Once you start dreaming up possibilities, it’s hard to stop! Contact us today if any of these ideas spark your imagination, or if you’d like to explore other custom binding options to suit a special project of your own.


Emma Solis is publishing associate for Modern Memoirs.

Endsheets: A Distinguished look for your book


Endsheets, also known as endpapers, are the first thing you see when you open a hardcover book. They are adhered to the hardcover board itself, and they help keep the cover and interior pages together. Typically they are a bit heavier or thicker than the rest of the text stock (paper). Nowadays, they are often the same color as the text stock (white, or natural), but this is largely out of convenience, not necessity. In fact, well-chosen endsheets can contribute as much to the unique design and feel of your book as its cover does.

If you want a distinctive touch to your book, we suggest endsheets that will complement or contrast the color of the outside cover. One popular modern option is a colorful repeating pattern, which harkens back to some of the earliest decorative endsheets, called marbled endsheets. The practice of using marbled endsheets possibly began in Iran in the 16th century. Paper would be dipped in baths of swirling paint mixed with ox gall (sourced from the bovine liver) to create dreamy, abstract patterns. European bookbinders observed and then adopted the practice. Look in any rare book library and you will likely find some marbled endsheets, proving that specialty endsheets will last, adding a classic and beautifying touch to your own book.

A solid color endsheet is also an option, in all manner of colors, even gold and silver. One of our clients who lived in France chose a red cover and blue endsheets—along with the white text stock, the combination hints at the French flag.

Another client chose to have a dark blue leather cover with Italian endsheets in all four volumes he wrote. These papers were special ordered from Florence.

For an even more personal touch, endsheets can come printed with text or images related to the content of the book. A genealogy book could highlight a family tree, for example, and a biography or memoir could include a map, company logo, or other image on the endsheets.

Endsheets can cost a bit more, but when you open the book they really stand out. They frame the pages as you read, a lovely enhancement. And they appear at the front and at the back, providing beautiful “bookends” for your masterpiece.


If you're interested in learning more about endsheets and how to share this book-design element with young readers in your life, company president Megan St. Marie has written extensively about endsheets in two of her books. Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking About What They See and Read It Again: 70 Whole Book Approach Plans to Help You Shake Up Storytime are available for sale in the Modern Memoirs shop, Memory Lane Books & Gifts.