The Birth of Penguin Books

In 1935, Alan Lane, the owner of Bodley Head publishing company, introduces the concept of affordable paperback books to a skeptical bookstore owner. Lane believes that publishing cheap paperbacks will reach a wider audience and increase book sales. Despite facing resistance from the publishing industry, Lane forms Penguin Books and releases a series of paperbacks with distinctive orange covers, offering quality books at a retail price of sixpence. The initial response is underwhelming, but a deal with Woolworths department store provides a breakthrough, leading to soaring sales and the establishment of a separate company, Penguin Books Limited.