The Overlook Press

The Overlook Press is an independent general-interest publisher founded in 1971 by Peter Mayer. Mayer, who also served as CEO of Penguin Books from 1978 to 1998, launched Overlook with a vision to publish an eclectic list of vital but often “overlooked” books by larger publishing houses.
Key Facts:
Founded: 1971, by Peter Mayer and his father, Alfred Mayer.
Location: Initially based in Woodstock, New York, in an old apple shed, with operations later shifting.
Acquisition: In 2018, following Peter Mayer’s death, The Overlook Press was acquired by Abrams Books (part of the French publisher La Martinière Groupe) and now operates as an imprint of Abrams.
Publishing Scope: Overlook publishes a diverse range of titles, including fiction, history, biography, drama, and design.
Notable Imprints/Acquisitions:
Tusk Books: An imprint with a format designed by Milton Glaser.
Ardis Publishing: Acquired in 2002, this added a significant list of Russian literature in English.
Gerald Duckworth and Company Ltd.: Overlook also took ownership of this British publishing company.
Publishing Focus:
The press has a reputation for an “eclectic” list, covering a wide array of topics and genres. Their focus includes literary fiction, literary translation, and science fiction, aiming to introduce emerging and established authors from around the world.
Over the decades, The Overlook Press has kept more than a thousand titles in print, many of which are considered distinguished works that might otherwise have gone out of print.