Peter Owen Publishers

Peter Owen Publishers is an independent publishing house with a long-standing history of more than 70 years. It was founded with a clear vision dedicated to supporting distinguished and translated literature.

The spirit of the house is one of literary excellence: it is not focused solely on books that “sell well,” but rather on publishing intellectual, translated, and sometimes unconventional or experimental works.

If you are interested in world literature, translation, or non-traditional authors, the books published by this house are certainly worth following.

Its credibility is extremely high: its commitment to refined literature and its long heritage grant it significant literary and cultural authority.

Foundation and History

Peter Owen Publishers was founded in London in 1951 by Peter Owen.
Peter Owen was born under the name Peter Offenstadt in Nuremberg, Germany, in 1927, and moved to England at a young age with his family.

From the very beginning, he showed a deep passion for literature and established his publishing venture with strong enthusiasm for non-traditional and experimental literature.

In the later years of his life, he gradually handed over part of the company’s management responsibilities to his daughter, Antonia Owen, who became Editorial Director.

Literary Achievements and Authors

The publishing house released works by major writers such as Hermann Hesse, Anaïs Nin, and Yukio Mishima, in addition to many other authors—some of whom went on to win major international literary awards.

It also strongly supported non-fiction, intellectual works, memoirs, and important translations.

Archives and Documentation

The publisher’s archive is preserved at the University of Reading, and it includes manuscripts, correspondence with authors and translators, and early drafts of published books.

Reputation and Credibility

Peter Owen Publishers is regarded as one of the most respected and prestigious independent publishing houses, especially among readers interested in experimental and translated literature.

Its long-term commitment to high literary quality has secured it a distinguished position in the literary world.

Publishing Philosophy and Literary Direction

The house is well known for supporting non-mainstream or “marginal” literature—unfamiliar texts, authors from diverse cultures, experimental writing, and translations.

It is among the few publishers that embraced translation on a wide scale, publishing authors from Japan (such as Yukio Mishima), Northern Europe, as well as American and expatriate literature.

Among its authors were prominent figures such as Hermann Hesse, Anaïs Nin, and Paul Bowles, offering readers a remarkably diverse literary catalogue.

Its first major commercial success came with the novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse—one of the books that perfectly reflected Owen’s literary vision: a deeply spiritual text that traditional publishers did not immediately recognize as commercially viable.

Challenges and Transformations

The publishing house faced ongoing challenges in balancing profitability with literary selectivity, yet its long history demonstrates a strong ability to endure and adapt.

After the death of Peter Owen and the acquisition of the company by Pushkin Press, potential changes in future publishing strategy are expected.

The core challenge for such publishing houses lies in maintaining the balance between distinguished literary publishing and commercial sustainability. Peter Owen himself acknowledged that success required having “a business mind combined with literary taste.”

After Peter Owen’s passing, major managerial changes took place, and with Pushkin Press’s acquisition, there is a strong possibility of shifts in publishing strategy and future direction.

Many of Owen’s past decisions—such as publishing unconventional authors or unfamiliar translations—were major risks, yet many of those risks resulted in significant literary and cultural successes.