Bloomsbury Publishing

{{Short description|British worldwide publishing house}} {{about|the contemporary publishing company|the historic literary group|Bloomsbury Group}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox publisher | image = {{wikidata|property|P154}} | image_size = 250px | name = Bloomsbury Publishing plc | status = Active | traded_as = {{lse|BMY}} | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1986|09|26}} | country = United Kingdom | headquarters = London, England | distribution = Macmillan Publishers Services (UK)<br />United Book Distributors (Australia)<br />Hachette Book Group (US) | keypeople = {{ubl|Sir Richard Lambert<br />(Non-executive Chairman)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/BMY/13262634.html|title=Bloomsbury Publishing Board Appointment|date=16 June 2017|website=London Stock Exchange|access-date=3 July 2018}}</ref>|Nigel Newton<br>(Chief Executive)}} | publications = Books, digital content products, and online resources such as databases | imprints = {{Plain list | * Bloomsbury Academic * Bloomsbury Methuen Drama ({{small|New York City}}) }} {{Infobox company | embed=yes | revenue = {{decrease}}£325.9 million (2026)<ref name=results>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomsbury-ir.co.uk/docs/librariesprovider16/archives/annual_reports/prelim26.pdf|title=Annual Results for the year ended 28 February 2026|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|access-date=20 May 2026}}</ref> | operating_income={{increase}}£35.4 million (2026)<ref name=results/> | net_income ={{increase}}£27.0 million (2026)<ref name=results/> | <!-- etc. --> }} | numemployees = | nasdaq = | url = {{Official URL}} }}

'''Bloomsbury Publishing plc''' is a British worldwide publishing house of fiction and non-fiction. Bloomsbury's head office is located on Bedford Square<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bloomsbury Offices |url=https://www.prestigeoffices.co.uk/neighborhood/luxury-office-space-bloomsbury/ |access-date=2024-11-12 |website=Prestige Offices {{!}} Luxury Office Space in London |language=en-GB}}</ref> in Bloomsbury, an area of the London Borough of Camden. It has a US publishing office located in New York City, an India publishing office in New Delhi, an Australian sales office in Sydney CBD, and other publishing offices in the UK, including in Oxford. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

==History== The company was founded in 1986 by Nigel Newton, who had previously been employed by other publishing companies. It was floated on the London Stock Exchange with a valuation of £9 million in 1994.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fnlondon.com/articles/bloomsbury-caught-in-the-harry-potter-spell-20011112|title=Bloomsbury caught in the Harry Potter spell|date=12 November 2001|newspaper=Financial News|access-date=4 March 2026}}</ref>

For much of its existence, Bloomsbury was a minor player in the British publishing scene. In 1997, Bloomsbury took a chance on publishing the ''Harry Potter'' series after it had been rejected by multiple publishers. That decision catapulted the company's fortunes, as ''Harry Potter'' would go on to become the best-selling book series in history.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomfolio.com/publishers/HarryPotter.html|title=The Phenomenon of Harry Potter|last=Elisco|first=Lester|publisher=TomFolio.com|access-date=22 January 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412095537/http://www.tomfolio.com/publishers/HarryPotter.html|archive-date=12 April 2017}}</ref>

A rights issue of shares in 1998 further raised £6.1 million, which was used to expand the company, in particular to found a U.S. branch. In 1998, Bloomsbury USA was established. Bloomsbury USA Books for Young Readers was established in 2002, and in 2005, Bloomsbury acquired Walker & Co, a small company dedicated to publishing nonfiction.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bloomsburyusa.com/about|title=About Us|website=Bloomsbury Publishing|access-date=19 October 2016|archive-date=31 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100131080834/http://www.bloomsburyusa.com/about|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Walker brand was discontinued in 2015 and sold to Walker Publishing Company.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Bloomsbury Consolidates Children's Imprints; Easton Leaving| work = PublishersWeekly.com| access-date = 2019-11-02| url = https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/61466-bloomsbury-consolidates-children-s-imprints-easton-leaving.html|first=Jim |last=Milliot |date=17 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title = Candlewick to Publish Walker Books in U.S.| work = PublishersWeekly.com|first=Judith |last=Rosen |date= 10 August 2017| access-date = 2019-11-02| url = https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/74450-candlewick-to-publish-walker-books-in-u-s.html}}</ref>

== Bloomsbury US ==

Bloomsbury US was established in 1998 in New York, New York, as a general interest publisher of both adult and children's books. It is known for its high-quality fiction and non-fiction as well as its extensive academic publishing branch.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/connect/about-us/overview/#|title=About Bloomsbury Publishing|publisher=Bloomsbury}}</ref>

Its notable titles have include Anthony Bourdain's global bestseller ''Kitchen Confidential'', Jesmyn Ward's National Book Award winner ''Salvage the Bones'', the works of 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature winner Abdulrazak Gurnah, Susanna Clark's Women's Prize for Fiction winner Piranesi, Renée Watson's Newbery Honor Book Piecing Me Together, Martin W. Sandler's National Book Award winner 1919, and titles by renowned authors Paul Beatty, Roz Chast, Edmund White, Elif Shafak, Carol Anderson, Mark Kurlansky, Miriam Toews, Samantha Shannon, and Deborah Levy.<ref name="auto1"/>

In 2021, Bloomsbury US acquired ABC-CLIO LLC, the established academic publisher of both print and digital materials, for $22.9 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/88138-bloomsbury-buys-abc-clio-for-22-9-million.html|title=Bloomsbury Buys ABC-CLIO for $22.9Million|first=Jim|last=Milliot|website=Publishers Weekly}}</ref> In 2024, Bloomsbury US finalized the asset purchase of Rowman & Littlefield, an independent academic publisher, for $83 million.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/connect/latest-news/bloomsbury-acquires-rowman-littlefield-academic-business-and-assets/|title=Bloomsbury acquires Rowman & Littlefield Academic business and assets|website=Bloomsbury}}</ref> The sale included rights to the publisher's academic imprints and associated titles, doubling the size of Bloomsbury US's Academic & Professional divisions.<ref name="auto"/>

==Bloomsbury India==

In December 2008, Bloomsbury opened a branch in Doha, Qatar, in a joint-partnership with Qatar Foundation.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Harding|first=Sue-Ann|title='But we don't read, Professor!' Translation, Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing, and building a 'vibrant literary culture'|journal=Perspectives: Studies in Translatology|volume=22|issue=4|page=Abstract|year=2014|doi=10.1080/0907676X.2014.948891|s2cid=60553880}}</ref> The partnership created a publishing house, Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing; it worked mainly with English and Arabic literature.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/oct/16/middleeast-germany|title=Publishers seek new talent in Arab world |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London|first=Alison |last=Flood|author2=Ian Black|name-list-style=|date=15 October 2008|access-date=18 February 2016}}</ref>

Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Journals (BQFJ), an open access and peer reviewed academic publisher, was created in December 2010 as a joint venture with Qatar Foundation. Journal research articles were published through BQFJ's website ''QScience.com''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-12-25 |orig-date=corresponding to 19 Muharram 1432 AH |title=<<Muasasat Qatara>> tutliq alminbar al'iilikturunia QScience.com linashr aldawriaat |script-title=ar:«مؤسسة قطر» تطلق المنبر الإلكتروني QScience.com لنشر الدوريات |trans-title="Qatar Foundation" launches the electronic platform QScience.com to publish periodicals |url=http://www.alwasatnews.com/news/516920.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311001058/http://www.alwasatnews.com/news/516920.html |archive-date=2016-03-11 |access-date=2016-02-18 |work="Sahifat Alwasat Albahrayniat - Mamlakat Albahrayn" صحيفة الوسط البحرينية - مملكة البحرين [Bahrain Al Wasat Newspaper - Kingdom of Bahrain] |language=ar |issue=3032}}</ref> The company's partnership with Qatar Foundation ended in December 2015 and all of Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing works were incorporated in Qatari-owned HBKU Press. At the time of BQFP's dissolution it had published over 200 books. BQFJ's works were also incorporated in HBKU Press.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/qatar-s-qf-and-bloomsbury-end-partnership-319122|title=Qatar's QF and Bloomsbury end partnership|website=The Bookseller|first=Charlotte|last= Eyre|date=22 December 2015|access-date=18 February 2016}}</ref>

In 2012, Bloomsbury established a publishing office in India.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloomsbury-ir.co.uk/html/media/press_releases/2012/140212.asp|title=Regulatory announcement|access-date=24 July 2018|archive-date=24 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724154142/http://www.bloomsbury-ir.co.uk/html/media/press_releases/2012/140212.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2018, an article disclosed that much of the profit in the children's division was due to the ''Harry Potter'' series by J. K. Rowling.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/oct/23/jk-rowlings-harry-potter-continues-to-drive-profits-at-bloomsbury|title=JK Rowling's Harry Potter fuels Bloomsbury profit rise|date=23 October 2018|access-date=5 February 2024}}</ref>

In May 2023, an article in ''The Verge'' reported that the cover of the UK edition of ''House of Earth and Blood'', published by Bloomsbury, uses an AI-generated image.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/15/23724102/sarah-j-maas-ai-generated-book-cover-bloomsbury-house-of-earth-and-blood |title=Not even NYT bestsellers are safe from AI cover art|website=The Verge|first=Jess |last=Weatherbed|date=15 May 2023}}</ref>

==Acquisitions and imprints== Among the companies, book lists and imprints that Bloomsbury has acquired are:<ref>{{Cite web | title = Corporate history – Corporate and Investor Relations – Bloomsbury.com | access-date = 19 January 2015 | url = http://www.bloomsbury-ir.co.uk/html/about/a_history.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130722231642/http://bloomsbury-ir.co.uk/html/about/a_history.html | archive-date = 22 July 2013 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=20em}} * Bloomsbury Academic (1986) * A & C Black (2000) * Whitaker's Almanack (2002) * T & AD Poyser (2002) * Thomas Reed Publications (2002) * Peter Collin Publishing (2002) * Andrew Brodie Publications (2003) * Adlard Coles Nautical (2003) * Walker Publishing Company (2004) * Methuen Drama (2006) * Berg Publishers (2008) * John Wisden & Co (2008) * Arden Shakespeare (2008) * Tottel Publishing (2009) * Bristol Classical Press (2010) * Continuum International Publishing Group (2011) * Absolute Press (2011)<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Bloomsbury cooks up deal with Absolute Press |magazine=The Bookseller |first=Graeme |last=Neill|date=1 September 2011|access-date=2018-07-07 |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/bloomsbury-cooks-deal-absolute-press}}</ref> * Fairchild Books (2012) * Applied Visual Arts Publishing (2012) * Hart Publishing (2013) * Osprey Publishing (2014) * I.B. Tauris (2018) * Oberon Books (2019) * Zed Books (2020) * Red Globe Press (2021) * Head of Zeus (2021)<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Chandler|first1=Mark|last2=Wood|first2=Heloise|title=Bloomsbury buys Head of Zeus in £8.5m deal|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/bloomsbury-buys-head-zeus-85m-deal-1261767|date=2 June 2021|access-date=2021-11-10|website=The Bookseller}}</ref> * ABC-CLIO (2021)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/88138-bloomsbury-buys-abc-clio-for-22-9-million.html|title = Bloomsbury Buys ABC-CLIO for $22.9Million|website=Publishers Weekly|first=Jim |last=Milliot |date=16 December 2021}}</ref> * Libraries Unlimited (2022)<ref>{{cite web |title=Bloomsbury Libraries Unlimited |url=https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/discover/bloomsbury-academic/bloomsbury-libraries-unlimited/ |work=Bloomsbury |access-date=2025-09-30}}</ref> * Rowman & Littlefield (2024)<ref name=2024-transfer>{{Cite web |last=Milliot |first=Jim |title=Bloomsbury Buys Rowman & Littlefield Academic Division for $83 Million |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/industry-deals/article/95143-bloomsbury-buys-rowman-littlefield-academic-division-for-83-million.html |access-date=2024-05-29 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref> * Lexington Books (2024)<ref name=2024-transfer/> * Applause Books (2024)<ref name=2024-transfer/> * Backbeat Books (2024)<ref name=2024-transfer/> {{div col end}} {{Portal|London|Companies|Books|Children's literature}}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== * {{official website}} * [https://www.bloomsbury-ir.co.uk/ Corporate and Investor Relations] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20151025045114/http://www.exacteditions.com/bloomsbury/ Bloomsbury Online Library] on Exact Editions (via Wayback Machine) {{in lang|fr}}

{{Media in the United Kingdom|comporg}} {{Authority control}} * Category:1986 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Academic publishing companies Category:Book publishing companies based in London Category:Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange Category:Multinational publishing companies Category:Publishing companies established in 1986