Penguin Classics: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Penguin spines.jpg|thumb|Spines of a few older Penguin Classics. <ref>''Pin by Tray Stone on Penguin Books''. i.pinimg.com/originals/dc/9c/35/dc9c359c3ae8381e0b8ec83c4978164d.jpg.</ref>]] | [[File:Penguin spines.jpg|thumb|Spines of a few older Penguin Classics. <ref>''Pin by Tray Stone on Penguin Books''. i.pinimg.com/originals/dc/9c/35/dc9c359c3ae8381e0b8ec83c4978164d.jpg.</ref>]] | ||
== '''''Mission and history''''' == | == '''''Grand Overview''''' == | ||
=== '''''<u>Mission and history</u>''''' === | |||
Penguin Classics<ref>''Penguin Classics''. penguinclassics.com.</ref>, which is a sector of Penguin Random House, was originally founded in 1946 in the United Kingdom. The publisher’s original mission was to publish exclusively classic works, such as Penguin Classic’s first publication, E. V. Rieu’s translation of ''The Odyssey''. ''''' '''''After that book’s publication in 1946, E. V. Rieu actually went on to become editor of the press until 1964. Throughout the press’ history, there has been no notable mergers or acquisitions, but there have been a few different editors over time. After E. V. Rieu’s editorship from approximately 1944-1964, Betty Radice and Robert Baldick became joint editors on Penguin Classics. In 1974, Betty Radice became the solo editor and remained in her position until 1995. The current executive editor of Penguin Classics is John Siciliano. | Penguin Classics<ref>''Penguin Classics''. penguinclassics.com.</ref>, which is a sector of Penguin Random House, was originally founded in 1946 in the United Kingdom. The publisher’s original mission was to publish exclusively classic works, such as Penguin Classic’s first publication, E. V. Rieu’s translation of ''The Odyssey''. ''''' '''''After that book’s publication in 1946, E. V. Rieu actually went on to become editor of the press until 1964. Throughout the press’ history, there has been no notable mergers or acquisitions, but there have been a few different editors over time. After E. V. Rieu’s editorship from approximately 1944-1964, Betty Radice and Robert Baldick became joint editors on Penguin Classics. In 1974, Betty Radice became the solo editor and remained in her position until 1995. The current executive editor of Penguin Classics is John Siciliano. | ||
=== E.V. Rieu === | ==== <u>E.V. Rieu</u> ==== | ||
[[File:Ev rieu reading.jpg|thumb|A portrait of E.V. Rieu, the first editor and contributor to Penguin Classics.<ref>''E. V. Rieu Revealed! - Why Evolution Is True''. pbs.twimg.com/media/A8uV0YQCYAA0sPY.jpg:large.</ref>]] | [[File:Ev rieu reading.jpg|thumb|A portrait of E.V. Rieu, the first editor and contributor to Penguin Classics.<ref>''E. V. Rieu Revealed! - Why Evolution Is True''. pbs.twimg.com/media/A8uV0YQCYAA0sPY.jpg:large.</ref>]] | ||
E.V. Rieu (1887-1972) was the editor of Penguin Classics for 20 years, and was a celebrated translator of Latin and Greek literature in the early days of Penguin Classics. Within the press, Rieu personally contributed to the publication of ''The Illiad, The Odyssey,'' and ''The Voyage of Argo.''<ref>“E. V. Rieu | Penguin Random House.” ''PenguinRandomhouse.com'', www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/247448/e-v-rieu.</ref> | E.V. Rieu (1887-1972) was the editor of Penguin Classics for 20 years, and was a celebrated translator of Latin and Greek literature in the early days of Penguin Classics. Within the press, Rieu personally contributed to the publication of ''The Illiad, The Odyssey,'' and ''The Voyage of Argo.''<ref>“E. V. Rieu | Penguin Random House.” ''PenguinRandomhouse.com'', www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/247448/e-v-rieu.</ref> | ||
== '''''Ownership and structure''''' == | === '''''<u>Ownership and structure</u>''''' === | ||
Penguin Classics is ultimately owned by Penguin Random House. Penguin Random House, a member of the publishing “Big 5,” is one of the most successful and large publishing houses in the world. Penguin Random House has over 300 imprints, and Classics is one of the oldest and most beloved. According to the press itself, Penguin Random House partners with various non-profit organizations, including many library associations and literacy programs. In terms of size, Penguin Random House is notably large, employing approximately 10,000 people globally and publishing about 15,000 books each year. | Penguin Classics is ultimately owned by Penguin Random House. Penguin Random House, a member of the publishing “Big 5,” is one of the most successful and large publishing houses in the world. Penguin Random House has over 300 imprints, and Classics is one of the oldest and most beloved. According to the press itself, Penguin Random House partners with various non-profit organizations, including many library associations and literacy programs. In terms of size, Penguin Random House is notably large, employing approximately 10,000 people globally and publishing about 15,000 books each year. | ||
=== '''''<u>Financial information</u>''''' === | |||
According to Publishers Weekly<ref>“PRH Sales Rose 8.5% in 2024, Topping $5 Billion.” ''PublishersWeekly.com'', www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/97449-prh-sales-rose-8-5-in-2024-topping-5-billion.html.</ref>, Penguin Random House, which encapsulates Penguin Classics, had a very successful financial year in 2024. Overall, worldwide sales increased by 8.5%, and collective profits increased by 11.3%. Based off of this information, it is evident that Penguin Classics, which is an imprint of the overarching Penguin Random House publisher, is thriving financially. | |||
=== '''''<u>Recent News</u>''''' === | |||
==== <u>Comics!</u> ==== | |||
Since 2023, Penguin Classics has started including comics in their catalog, which is seen by Publishers Weekly as “a groundbreaking example of comics representation in literature.”<ref>“Why It Matters That Marvel Comics Are Becoming Penguin Classics.” ''PublishersWeekly.com'', www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/93203-why-it-matters-that-marvel-comics-are-becoming-penguin-classics.html.</ref> This is the first time that Penguin Classics has published anything of the sort, and so far, they’ve published a Marvel Collection, which includes The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, and the X-Men. | |||
==== <u>90th Anniversary</u> ==== | |||
In 2025, Penguin Classics released a "Penguin Archive" series, which included 90 short works. This collection was released to commemorate Penguin Random House's 90th anniversary. The collection included many valued classic authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and H.G. Wells.<ref>“Penguin Classics to release ‘Penguin Archive’ series celebrating 90 years.” ''thefreelibrary.com'', www.thefreelibrary.com/Penguin+Classics+to+release+%27Penguin+Archive%27+series+celebrating+90...-a0816559485.</ref> | |||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Publishers]] | [[Category:Publishers]] | ||
Revision as of 17:05, 3 October 2025
Grand Overview
Mission and history
Penguin Classics[2], which is a sector of Penguin Random House, was originally founded in 1946 in the United Kingdom. The publisher’s original mission was to publish exclusively classic works, such as Penguin Classic’s first publication, E. V. Rieu’s translation of The Odyssey. After that book’s publication in 1946, E. V. Rieu actually went on to become editor of the press until 1964. Throughout the press’ history, there has been no notable mergers or acquisitions, but there have been a few different editors over time. After E. V. Rieu’s editorship from approximately 1944-1964, Betty Radice and Robert Baldick became joint editors on Penguin Classics. In 1974, Betty Radice became the solo editor and remained in her position until 1995. The current executive editor of Penguin Classics is John Siciliano.
E.V. Rieu
E.V. Rieu (1887-1972) was the editor of Penguin Classics for 20 years, and was a celebrated translator of Latin and Greek literature in the early days of Penguin Classics. Within the press, Rieu personally contributed to the publication of The Illiad, The Odyssey, and The Voyage of Argo.[4]
Ownership and structure
Penguin Classics is ultimately owned by Penguin Random House. Penguin Random House, a member of the publishing “Big 5,” is one of the most successful and large publishing houses in the world. Penguin Random House has over 300 imprints, and Classics is one of the oldest and most beloved. According to the press itself, Penguin Random House partners with various non-profit organizations, including many library associations and literacy programs. In terms of size, Penguin Random House is notably large, employing approximately 10,000 people globally and publishing about 15,000 books each year.
Financial information
According to Publishers Weekly[5], Penguin Random House, which encapsulates Penguin Classics, had a very successful financial year in 2024. Overall, worldwide sales increased by 8.5%, and collective profits increased by 11.3%. Based off of this information, it is evident that Penguin Classics, which is an imprint of the overarching Penguin Random House publisher, is thriving financially.
Recent News
Comics!
Since 2023, Penguin Classics has started including comics in their catalog, which is seen by Publishers Weekly as “a groundbreaking example of comics representation in literature.”[6] This is the first time that Penguin Classics has published anything of the sort, and so far, they’ve published a Marvel Collection, which includes The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, and the X-Men.
90th Anniversary
In 2025, Penguin Classics released a "Penguin Archive" series, which included 90 short works. This collection was released to commemorate Penguin Random House's 90th anniversary. The collection included many valued classic authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and H.G. Wells.[7]
- ↑ Pin by Tray Stone on Penguin Books. i.pinimg.com/originals/dc/9c/35/dc9c359c3ae8381e0b8ec83c4978164d.jpg.
- ↑ Penguin Classics. penguinclassics.com.
- ↑ E. V. Rieu Revealed! - Why Evolution Is True. pbs.twimg.com/media/A8uV0YQCYAA0sPY.jpg:large.
- ↑ “E. V. Rieu | Penguin Random House.” PenguinRandomhouse.com, www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/247448/e-v-rieu.
- ↑ “PRH Sales Rose 8.5% in 2024, Topping $5 Billion.” PublishersWeekly.com, www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/97449-prh-sales-rose-8-5-in-2024-topping-5-billion.html.
- ↑ “Why It Matters That Marvel Comics Are Becoming Penguin Classics.” PublishersWeekly.com, www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/93203-why-it-matters-that-marvel-comics-are-becoming-penguin-classics.html.
- ↑ “Penguin Classics to release ‘Penguin Archive’ series celebrating 90 years.” thefreelibrary.com, www.thefreelibrary.com/Penguin+Classics+to+release+%27Penguin+Archive%27+series+celebrating+90...-a0816559485.
