Penguin Classics

Spines of a few older Penguin Classics.

Grand Overview

Mission and history

Penguin Classics, 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

A portrait of E.V. Rieu, the first editor and contributor to Penguin Classics.

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.

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, 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.” 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.

Analyzation of the Publishing Program

Catalog

On the Classics sector of the Penguin Random House online shop, printed editions of books are primarily sold. Most books additionally come with an option to purchase the title as an E-Book. In terms of genres, it appears that Penguin Classics publishes all genres, with an emphasis on fiction works. As of October third, 2025, their "New Releases" page consists of pieces by Mary Shelley, Hermann Hesse, Ernest Hemingway, Jane Austen, Joan Didion, and George Orwell. While purchasing a book from the publisher's site, you are given the option to alternatively buy the physical book/E-book from a distributor, such as Barnes & Noble or Powell's.

Notable Titles and Authors

A collection of clothbound editions from Penguin Classics.

Penguin Classics has published a countless number of notable authors, such as John Steinbeck, Jane Austen, and Langston Hughes. Almost all of Penguin Classics' most popular books are immediately recognizable and have some sort of academic, societal, or historic merit. One of the most popular collections from Penguin Classics is their Clothbound Classics collection, which offers classic novels encased in beautiful, thoughtfully designed hardcovers. The covers of these books are known to be highly artistic and collectible to some.

Formats

Penguin Classics produces both traditional, physical books and E-Books. Both are available on the publisher's website, ranging from approximately $12 USD - approximately $35 USD for individual books. The Penguin Classics online shop also provides shoppers with the option to purchase the books from their other distributors, and prices can vary slightly depending on which distributor is utilized.