About us

Some time ago – in 1934, to be precise – our founder was waiting for a train and couldn’t find anything good to read. What was needed, he realised, were quality books at a reasonable price. And so he decided to change things – the following year Penguin was launched, kickstarting a paperback revolution that would sweep the world.

Today, our iconic logo – originally sketched at London Zoo – can be found on bestsellers and undiscovered gems, pride of place in much-loved bookshops, and neighbourhood supermarkets and almost certainly on your shelf at home. Whatever, wherever and however you like to read, we’ve got something for you.

Almost a century after that train journey, in a very different world indeed, our Mission remains the same. Through decades and lifetimes, celebrations and crises, Penguin has always, always made books for everyone.

Books that can change your mood or your mind. Your commute or your community. The way you eat or the way you sleep. Today, tomorrow or your entire life.

Penguin Books is now an imprint of the worldwide Penguin Random House, a conglomerate formed in 2013 by its merger with American publisher Random House, a subsidiary of German media conglomerate Bertelsmann. | Penguin Books has its registered office in the City of Westminster, London, England.

Sir Allen Lane Williams