{{short description|UK independent book publisher founded 1985}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox publisher | image = | parent = | status = | founded = 1985 | founder = | successor = | country = United Kingdom | headquarters = Islington, London | distribution = Grantham Book Services (UK)<br />Chicago Distribution Center (The Americas) | keypeople = | publications = Books | topics = | genre = | imprints = | revenue = | numemployees = | nasdaq = | url = {{URL|http://reaktionbooks.co.uk}} }}
'''Reaktion Books Limited''' is an independent book publisher based in Islington, London, England. It was founded in 1985 in Edinburgh, Scotland, and moved to London in 1987. Reaktion originally focused on the fields of art, architecture, and design. In recent years it has broadened to include more areas and also publishes series of books.
==Details== Reaktion originally focused on the fields of art, architecture, and design – its first book was ''Ian Hamilton Finlay: A Visual Primer''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reaktionbooks.co.uk/book.html?id=88 |title= Reaktionbooks|website=www.reaktionbooks.co.uk |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421144748/http://www.reaktionbooks.co.uk/book.html?id=88 |archive-date=April 21, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Prudence Carlson |url=http://www.ianhamiltonfinlay.com/ian_hamilton_finlay.html |title=Little Sparta Ian Hamilton Finlay |publisher=Ianhamiltonfinlay.com |date=1925-10-28 |access-date=2013-08-27}}</ref> by Yves Abrioux. In recent years Reaktion's list has broadened substantially, and now also encompasses animal studies, Asian art and culture, biography, cultural studies, current events, fashion, film, food history, geography, general history, music, philosophy, photography, politics, and sports history. Reaktion now produces around 70 new titles each year and has about 500 titles in print.
Among the monographs released by Reaktion are studies of the Ottoman architect Sinan and the artists Delaroche, Holbein, Tintoretto, Bellini, Malcolm Morley, Leon Golub, and Caspar David Friedrich, the last of which was awarded the 1992 Mitchell Prize for the History of Art.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mitchell Prize for the History of Art |url=http://www.digital-librarian.com/MitchellPrize.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306073155/http://www.digital-librarian.com:80/MitchellPrize.txt |archive-date=Mar 6, 2016 |website=Digital Librarian}}</ref>
Reaktion also publishes many series of books, including ''Animal'',<ref>{{cite web|last=Banks |first=Eric |url=http://chronicle.com/article/Animals-Reconsidered/48803/ |url-access=registration |title=Animals Reconsidered |publisher=The Chronicle of Higher Education |date=October 18, 2009 |access-date=May 7, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604032255/http://chronicle.com/article/Animals-Reconsidered/48803/ |archive-date= Jun 4, 2016 }}</ref> short natural and cultural histories of individual animals; ''Edible'',<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/17/AR2009111703530.html |title=Book Review: Bonnie Benwick on the Edible Series |work=The Washington Post |date= 2009-11-18|access-date=2013-08-27}}</ref> global histories of a particular food, drink, or ingredient; ''Critical Lives'',<ref>{{cite news|author=Lesley McDowell |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/simone-de-beauvoir-by-ursula-tidd-1764517.html |title=Simone de Beauvoir, By Ursula Tidd - Reviews - Books |work=The Independent |date=2009-08-02 |access-date=2013-08-27 |location=London}}</ref> concise critical biographies of important cultural figures; and ''Earth'', studies of the historical and cultural significance of natural phenomena.
Recent books of note from Reaktion include ''Twenty Minutes in Manhattan''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/non-fiction/article6343880.ece|title=TLS - Times Literary Supplement}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> by Michael Sorkin, ''Travels in the History of Architecture''<ref>{{cite web|last=Stephens |first=Michael |url=http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6664385.html |title=Arts & Humanities. Reviews, and Views |publisher=Library Journal |date=15 June 2009 |access-date= 27 August 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627093230/http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6664385.html | archive-date=27 June 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> by Robert Harbison, ''Werner Herzog – Ecstatic Truth and Other Useless Conquests''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hegnsvad |first=Kristoffer |title= Werner Herzog – Ecstatic Truth and Other Useless Conquests |publisher= Reaktion Books |year=2021}}</ref> by Kristoffer Hegnsvad, ''Boxing: A Cultural History''<ref>{{cite news |author=Non-Fiction Reviews |date=2008-06-06 |title=Conflict in the boxing ring |publisher=Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/non_fictionreviews/3673651/Conflict-in-the-boxing-ring.html |access-date=2013-08-27}}</ref> by Kasia Boddy, ''Tofu: A Culinary History''<ref>{{cite news |author=World in a dish |date=2025-01-27 |title=Tofu: never judge a food by its political reputation |publisher=The Economist |location=New York |url=https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/01/27/tofu-never-judge-a-food-by-its-political-reputation |access-date=2025-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Foodie Explorers |date=2025-02-21 |title=Tofu – A Culinary History by Russell Thomas |publisher=Foodie Explorers |location=London |url=https://www.foodieexplorers.co.uk/tofu-a-culinary-history-by-russell-thomas/ |access-date=2025-01-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Rory Buccheri |date=2025-02-21 |title=Tofu: A Culinary History shows wholesome protein is anything but bland |publisher=The Grocer |location=London |url=https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/comment-and-opinion/tofu-a-culinary-history-shows-wholesome-protein-is-anything-but-bland/701328.article |access-date=2025-07-06}}</ref> by Russell Thomas, and ''Owl'' by Desmond Morris.
==Notes and references== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{official|http://www.reaktionbooks.co.uk}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Book publishing companies of the United Kingdom Category:Companies based in the London Borough of Islington Category:British companies established in 1985 Category:Publishing companies established in 1985