Tag: Collins

George R. R. Martin

It was in 1993 that George R. R. Martin–already an acclaimed author of science fiction and horror novels, and well known for his work in Hollywood as a screenwriter on The Twilight Zone and Beauty and the Beast–decided he needed a broader outlet for his creativity and conceived of A Song of Ice and Fire, a truly monumental fantasy series. More

2012: Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel wins the Man Booker Prize…

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel, published by HarperCollins in the UK, wins the Man Booker Prize. Mantel becomes the first woman ever to win the prize twice, having first won for Wolf Hall in 2009. More

A Bear Called Paddington

The original story of the bear who arrived at Paddington Station from darkest Peru. More

1862: Collins becomes the publisher for the Scottish School Book Association and Irish National Schools

Collins becomes the publisher for the Scottish School Book Association and Irish National Schools, by 1875 buying out the Scottish School Book Association and supplying books directly to schools. More

The Pre-Packaged Library

The Harper brothers created collections of titles that allowed readers to amass an entire library instead of buying just a single book. More

A Game of Thrones

First volume in the internationally bestselling series that has sold upward of 70 million copies. More

1824: The first Collins dictionary is printed

The first Collins dictionary is printed. More

Original cover artwork for a 1965 edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis

This original illustration by Italian artist Giorgio de Gasperi was used as cover art for a 1965 edition of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe published by Collins in the U.K. More

1930: Collins establishes the Collins Crime Club…

Collins establishes the Collins Crime Club, which continues for six decades. Members receive quarterly newsletters that list the best new releases as selected by a panel of experts. More

1888: Collins opens its first branch in Auckland, New Zealand

Collins opens its first branch in Auckland, New Zealand. More

1953: William Collins and Sons gains the rights to publish C. S. Lewis…

William Collins and Sons purchases the religious publishing firm of Geoffrey Bles, Ltd., gaining the rights to the works of C. S. Lewis, including his Chronicles of Narnia fantasy books. More

Social Change: Collins Gives Back

In the UK, William Collins II of Collins and Sons took up labor causes, especially child labor. More

The HarperCollins Logo

The HarperCollins logo represents the 1990 consolidation of Harper & Row, based in New York, and Collins Publishers, based in London and Glasgow. More

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

The beloved multimillion-copy-selling British picture book no childhood should be without. More

Original cover design for a Collins Crime Club title

Here you can see the progression of the cover art for the Collins Crime Club title Nothing is the Number When You Die by Joan Fleming (circa 1940s). More

Doctor Zhivago

Collins was the first to publish this epic romantic drama by the Nobel Prize winner in English. More

The Hobbit

J. R. R. Tolkien’s enchanting tale became an instant success when it was first published. More

Judith Kerr: Beyond The Tiger Who Came to Tea

Collins author Judith Kerr may be best known in the UK for her classic children’s picture books The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog the Forgetful Cat, but she is also renowned for her powerful autobiographical novels about her childhood and young adulthood. More

1856: The first Collins Atlas is published

The first Collins Atlas is published. More

The Fellowship of the Ring

First volume in The Lord of the Rings series, which has sold more than 100 million copies. More

Letter from C. S. Lewis

In this letter to Collins publisher Billy Collins, dated November 1954, C. S. Lewis—author of The Chronicles of Narnia series, Mere Christianity, and The Screwtape Letters, among others—outlines what he sees as his three types of “literary output”: “A. Religious and General. B. Fiction. C. Academic.” More

1990: HarperCollins becomes the new global company name…

On May 29, 1990, HarperCollins becomes the new global name for the combined Harper & Row and Collins. More

And Then There Were None

The bestselling crime novel of all time. More

1973: William Collins and Sons secures the rights to Solzhenitsyn’s The Gulag Archipelago…

William Collins and Sons secures the rights to Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s The Gulag Archipelago, an eye-opening work that exposes in startling detail the horrors of the communist regime in Russia. More

William Collins

Born on the south side of Glasgow in the village of Pollokshaws in 1789, William Collins left school to work as a weaver and clerk in a local cotton mill. More

Crime & Mystery At HarperCollins

In 1860, Harper & Brothers had paid Wilkie Collins £750 for The Woman in White, which heralded the publisher’s entry into the crime and mystery genre. More

Founded on Religion

Though a shared love of the written word inspired those who laid the foundation of HarperCollins, spreading Christian principles was a calling for them. More