about the cover illustration
The figure on the cover of AI Agents in Action is “Clémentinien,” taken from Balthasar Hacquet’s Illustrations de L’Illyrie et la Dalmatie, published in 1815.
In those days, it was easy to identify where people lived and what their trade or station in life was just by their dress. Manning celebrates the inventiveness and initiative of the computer business with book covers based on the rich diversity of regional culture centuries ago, brought back to life by pictures from collections such as this one.