Allen, George, & Unwin Ltd
Other Business Names:
- Allen, George, & Sons
- Unwin, Sir Stanley
- Allen, George
- Ruskin, John
- Allen, George, & Co Ltd
- Swan Sonnenschien
- Bell & Hyman
- Unwin Hyman Ltd
- HarperCollins
- Unwin, Rayner
- Bodley Head, The
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
-
Publishing & printing
Other publishing
Notes:
Established 1871 by George Allen backed by the writer John Ruskin, d1900; Allen had formerly been Ruskin's general assistant. Sold direct to the public or booksellers, cutting out middlemen and discounting. Initially specialised in publishing Ruskin's work or reprints of it. George joined by his sons to become George Allen & Sons, later George Allen & Co Ltd. Acquired Swan Sonnenschien 1911. Acquired by (Sir) Stanley Unwin and reconstituted by him as George Allen & Unwin Ltd in 1914. Emerged as a leading London house publishing scholarly works, including Bertrand Russell, and educational works as well as politically and socially radical texts, eg for Fabian Society. 1937 gained control of The Bodley Head. Latterly led by Rayner Unwin, 1925-2000, son of Stanley. Following decline in 1986 merged with Bell & Hyman to form Unwin Hyman Ltd. Acquired by HarperCollins 1990 [2023]
Publications:
- Author and publisher. John Ruskin and George Allen, 1890-1900 by Maidment, Brian E
- Fifty Years with Father. A relationship by Unwin, David
- From Swan Sonnenschein to George Allen & Unwin Ltd by Mumby, Frank A, & Frances H S Stallybrass
- George Allen & Unwin by Unknown
- George Allen & Unwin. A remembrancer by Unwin, Rayner
- 'George Allen & Unwin Ltd; Unwin Hyman Ltd' in J Rose & P J Anderson (eds), Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol 112. British literary publishing houses, 1881-1965 by Edwards, J A
- 'George Allen; George Allen & Co Ltd' in P J Anderson & J Rose (eds), Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol 106. British literary publishing houses, 1820-1880 by Maidment, Brian E
- Interview with Rayner Unwin, London, Tuesday, 1 February 1994 by Potter, Jane
- John Ruskin and George Allen by Maidment, Brian E
- Publishing in Peace and War by Unwin, Stanley
- Sir Stanley Unwin. Tributes from some of his friends by Blackwell, Basil, et al
- The Publishing Unwins by Unwin, Philip
- Truth about a Publisher. An autobiographical record by Unwin, Stanley
- Truth about Publishing by Unwin, Stanley
Groups:
Other Business Names:
- Allen, George, & Sons
- Unwin, Sir Stanley
- Allen, George
- Ruskin, John
- Allen, George, & Co Ltd
- Swan Sonnenschien
- Bell & Hyman
- Unwin Hyman Ltd
- HarperCollins
- Unwin, Rayner
- Bodley Head, The
Locations city-town / local authority / county1974 / region-state / country:
- London, Greater London, Greater London, Greater London, England
Sectors:
- Publishing & printing Other publishing
Notes:
Established 1871 by George Allen backed by the writer John Ruskin, d1900; Allen had formerly been Ruskin's general assistant. Sold direct to the public or booksellers, cutting out middlemen and discounting. Initially specialised in publishing Ruskin's work or reprints of it. George joined by his sons to become George Allen & Sons, later George Allen & Co Ltd. Acquired Swan Sonnenschien 1911. Acquired by (Sir) Stanley Unwin and reconstituted by him as George Allen & Unwin Ltd in 1914. Emerged as a leading London house publishing scholarly works, including Bertrand Russell, and educational works as well as politically and socially radical texts, eg for Fabian Society. 1937 gained control of The Bodley Head. Latterly led by Rayner Unwin, 1925-2000, son of Stanley. Following decline in 1986 merged with Bell & Hyman to form Unwin Hyman Ltd. Acquired by HarperCollins 1990 [2023]Publications:
- Author and publisher. John Ruskin and George Allen, 1890-1900 by Maidment, Brian E
- Fifty Years with Father. A relationship by Unwin, David
- From Swan Sonnenschein to George Allen & Unwin Ltd by Mumby, Frank A, & Frances H S Stallybrass
- George Allen & Unwin by Unknown
- George Allen & Unwin. A remembrancer by Unwin, Rayner
- 'George Allen & Unwin Ltd; Unwin Hyman Ltd' in J Rose & P J Anderson (eds), Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol 112. British literary publishing houses, 1881-1965 by Edwards, J A
- 'George Allen; George Allen & Co Ltd' in P J Anderson & J Rose (eds), Dictionary of Literary Biography, Vol 106. British literary publishing houses, 1820-1880 by Maidment, Brian E
- Interview with Rayner Unwin, London, Tuesday, 1 February 1994 by Potter, Jane
- John Ruskin and George Allen by Maidment, Brian E
- Publishing in Peace and War by Unwin, Stanley
- Sir Stanley Unwin. Tributes from some of his friends by Blackwell, Basil, et al
- The Publishing Unwins by Unwin, Philip
- Truth about a Publisher. An autobiographical record by Unwin, Stanley
- Truth about Publishing by Unwin, Stanley