Allen Lane
Allen Lane Williams entered the world on the 21st of September 1902 in Bristol. His parents were Camilla and Samuel Williams. He attended Bristol Grammar School before joining a publishing house called Bodley Head in 1919. This company was founded by his uncle John Lane. Lane served as an apprentice under this relative during those early years. The family made a significant decision to change their surname from Williams to Lane. They did this to ensure that John Lane's childless company remained within the family. Allen Lane rose quickly through the ranks at Bodley Head. He became managing editor in 1925 after his uncle passed away.
Tensions grew between Allen Lane and the board of directors at Bodley Head. These directors feared prosecution if they published James Joyce's controversial book Ulysses. Lane disagreed with their caution and sought a different path. He joined forces with his brothers Richard and John Lane to create a new venture. They established Penguin Books in 1935 while still part of the larger Bodley Head organization. The following year, Penguin Books became a separate independent company. Most booksellers and authors opposed the idea of paperbacks initially. They believed readers would spend less money on books if they were cheap. Lane remained stubborn about his vision for affordable reading material.
A popular story describes Allen Lane having a sudden inspiration during a train trip. This journey took place in 1934 when he visited Agatha Christie. He arrived at Exeter St Davids station with nothing worth reading available to him. Lane conceived the idea for paperback editions of literature that were proven to be of quality. He wanted these books to be cheap enough to sell from vending machines. The first machine appeared outside Henderson's shop on Charing Cross Road. People called this location the Penguincubator. Lane also studied the Hamburg publisher Albatross Books closely. He adopted many innovations from that competitor to improve his own offerings.
Edward Young designed the distinctive horizontal bands used on book covers. He utilized Gill Sans Bold lettering for the titles on those early volumes. Young even visited the Zoo in Regents Park to sketch penguins for the cover art. Allen Lane demanded a design that was consistent and easily recognizable across all titles. In 1937, the company changed its font to Times New Roman. The brand split into two distinct lines: Penguin fiction and Pelican non-fiction. Penguins were meant to entertain readers while Pelicans aimed to enlighten them. Lane believed good design cost no more than bad design. He insisted that cheap books should still look well made.
The company expanded rapidly during the 1950s with major outposts in Australia and the United States. Lane's management style created friction with the individuals running the American office. These staff members eventually left Penguin Books to start their own publishing companies. Two of these former employees founded Bantam Books and New American Library. The paperback venture proved extremely successful overall. Lane expanded into other areas like Puffin Books in 1940. He also launched the Penguin Classics series in 1945. His intuition drove many decisions rather than strict business planning. Critics noted he thrived in an atmosphere of crisis.
Lane took legal risks by publishing an unexpurgated edition of D. H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lover. This decision served as a test for the Obscene Publications Act 1959. In 1965, tensions rose between Lane and chief editor Tony Godwin. The board attempted to remove Lane from his position. During this conflict, Lane stole the entire print run of Siné's book Massacre. He then burnt the copies because they were deeply offensive to him. Lane dismissed Godwin and retained control of Penguin temporarily. However, he was forced to retire shortly after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.
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Common questions
When was Allen Lane born and where did he grow up?
Allen Lane Williams entered the world on the 21st of September 1902 in Bristol. His parents were Camilla and Samuel Williams.
Why did Allen Lane change his family name from Williams to Lane?
The family made a significant decision to change their surname from Williams to Lane to ensure that John Lane's childless company remained within the family. This allowed Allen Lane to inherit control of the publishing house founded by his uncle.
How did Allen Lane create Penguin Books and when did it become independent?
Allen Lane joined forces with his brothers Richard and John Lane to establish Penguin Books in 1935 while still part of the larger Bodley Head organization. The following year, Penguin Books became a separate independent company after tensions grew between Allen Lane and the board of directors at Bodley Head.
What inspired Allen Lane to publish affordable paperbacks during a train trip in 1934?
A popular story describes Allen Lane having a sudden inspiration during a train trip in 1934 when he visited Agatha Christie. He arrived at Exeter St Davids station with nothing worth reading available to him and conceived the idea for paperback editions of literature that were proven to be of quality.
Who designed the distinctive horizontal bands used on early Penguin book covers?
Edward Young designed the distinctive horizontal bands used on book covers and utilized Gill Sans Bold lettering for the titles on those early volumes. Young even visited the Zoo in Regents Park to sketch penguins for the cover art before the company changed its font to Times New Roman in 1937.