When did Richard Branson establish Virgin Books?
Richard Branson established Virgin Books in the late 1970s as a new division of his record company. The venture began quietly before expanding into book publishing during the latter part of the 1980s.
Questions about Virgin Books
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What major acquisition did Virgin Books make to expand its list?
Virgin purchased WH Allen, a publisher already famous among Doctor Who fans for their Target Books imprint. This acquisition brought significant weight to the growing list and led to Virgin Books becoming incorporated directly into WH Allen operations in 1989.
Which series did Virgin Books publish starting in 1991 after the television show was cancelled?
The company found early success with the Doctor Who New Adventures novels starting in 1991. These officially licensed full-length novels continued the story of the popular science-fiction television series after it was cancelled in 1989.
Who acquired a 90% stake in Virgin Books in March 2007?
Random House acquired a 90% stake in the company in March 2007 through its United Kingdom division. Joel Rickett led the purchase according to reports from The Bookseller on the 5th of March 2007.
When did Black Lace stop adding new titles before being relaunched?
Virgin announced that Black Lace would add no new titles in 2010 before the line was relaunched in 2012. The imprint specialized in erotica and erotic romance written by female authors specifically for heterosexual female readers starting in 1993.