On 30 July 1935, Allen Lane published the first batch of Penguin Books, starting with Ariel by Andre Maurois. These paperbacks, priced at sixpence each, aimed to make literature affordable and accessible to a wider audience.
The initial ten titles included works by notable authors such as Compton Mackenzie (Carnival), Mary Webb (Gone to Earth), and Susan Ertz (Madame Clair). Crime fiction was represented by Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie, while Eric Linklater's Poet's Pub and Ernest Hemingway's Farewell to Arms also featured.
Contemporary observers praised the clear type and sturdy boards, which were deemed sufficient for the wear and tear of pocket or haversack. The venture was seen as a welcome development in cheap publishing, reminiscent of the prewar Nelson seven-pennies but offering greater variety.
Allen Lane's initiative marked a significant shift in the publishing industry, bringing books within easy reach of the average person, comparable to the cost of a cinema ticket or a pint of ale.
