Book design is a practice in subtlety. Careful attention is paid to the proportions of the margins, indentation, and numbering. The leading (line spacing) can determine how quickly a page is read, as well as how comfortable the reader's eye feels while reading. And the choice of font can have a significant impact on the pacing, and even the mood of the read.
All chapters begin on the recto (front side, or right-hand page). Ornamentation on a page can be an engaging accent, or an imposing distraction. The floral elements on the verso and in the margins are intended to be a visual counterpoint to the text, and only slightly less visually prominent.
The range of decoration accommodated by a codex page is broad - contrast the above image with any page from the Kelmscott Press.
A spread from a finished codex.
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Wisdom of Shepherds: Typography
This is the second book in a two-book series by author Rhett Ellis. The narrative was more organic (and obviously pastoral) in nature than the first book, so a floral element scheme was introduced into the layout. The typography and proportions were left unchanged to maintain coherence.
