Minerva Press
Encyclopedia
Minerva Press was a publishing house
, noted for creating a lucrative market in sentimental and Gothic fiction
in the late 18th century and early 19th century. It was established by William Lane (1745?-1814) at No 33 Leadenhall Street
, London
, when he moved his circulating library there in about 1790.
Among his stable of writers were many female authors including Regina Maria Roche
(The Maid of Hamlet, 1793; Clermont
, 1798); Mrs. Eliza Parsons (The Castle of Wolfenbach
, 1793; The Mysterious Warning, 1796); and Eleanor Sleath (The Orphan of the Rhine
, 1798) whose Gothic fiction is included in the list of the seven Northanger Horrid Novels
, recommended by the character Isabella Thorpe in Jane Austen
's novel of similar name
. Six of the Northanger Seven were published by Minerva. However many titles were anonymous, including such novels as Count Roderic's Castle (1794), The Haunted Castle (1794), The Animated Skeleton (1798) and The New Monk (1798) . Authors who wrote for Minerva Press are obscure today, and its market became negligible after the death of its charismatic founder.
Lane was succeeded as proprietor of the Minerva Press by his partner, Anthony King (A.K.) Newman, who gradually dropped the Minerva name from his books' title pages during the 1820s. Later books published by the press bear the imprint "A. K. Newman & Co." with no further mention of the Minerva Press.
In the twentieth century, the name Minerva Press was used by at least one publisher; however, this has no connection with the original Minerva Press.
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
, noted for creating a lucrative market in sentimental and Gothic fiction
Gothic fiction
Gothic fiction, sometimes referred to as Gothic horror, is a genre or mode of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Gothicism's origin is attributed to English author Horace Walpole, with his 1764 novel The Castle of Otranto, subtitled "A Gothic Story"...
in the late 18th century and early 19th century. It was established by William Lane (1745?-1814) at No 33 Leadenhall Street
Leadenhall Street
Leadenhall Street is a street in the City of London, formerly part of the A11. It runs east from Cornhill to Aldgate, and west vice-versa. Aldgate Pump is at the junction with Aldgate...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, when he moved his circulating library there in about 1790.
Among his stable of writers were many female authors including Regina Maria Roche
Regina Maria Roche
Regina Maria Roche is considered today to be a minor Gothic novelist who wrote very much in the shadow of Ann Radcliffe. She was, however, a best seller in her own time...
(The Maid of Hamlet, 1793; Clermont
Clermont (novel)
Clermont is a Gothic novel by Regina Maria Roche. It was first published in 1798 by the sensationalist Minerva Press.- Plot :Clermont relates the story of the beautiful Madeline, who lives in seclusion with her eponymous father until they are visited by a mysterious Countess from Clermont's...
, 1798); Mrs. Eliza Parsons (The Castle of Wolfenbach
The Castle of Wolfenbach
The Castle of Wolfenbach is the most famous novel written by the English Gothic novelist Eliza Parsons. First published in two volumes during 1793, it was one of the seven "horrid novels" recommended by the character Isabella Thorpe to Catherine Morland in Jane Austen's novel Northanger Abbey and...
, 1793; The Mysterious Warning, 1796); and Eleanor Sleath (The Orphan of the Rhine
The Orphan of the Rhine
The Orphan of the Rhine was a gothic novel by Mrs. Eleanor Sleath, listed as one of the seven "horrid novels" by Jane Austen in her novel Northanger Abbey .Subtitled "A Romance" it was published in four volumes the sensationalist Minerva Press in 1798...
, 1798) whose Gothic fiction is included in the list of the seven Northanger Horrid Novels
Northanger Horrid Novels
The Northanger Horrid Novels are seven early works of Gothic fiction recommended by Isabella Thorpe to Catherine Morland in Jane Austen's novel Northanger Abbey :*Clermont, a Tale by Regina Maria Roche. London: Minerva Press....
, recommended by the character Isabella Thorpe in Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
's novel of similar name
Northanger Abbey
Northanger Abbey was the first of Jane Austen's novels to be completed for publication, though she had previously made a start on Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. According to Cassandra Austen's Memorandum, Susan was written approximately during 1798–99...
. Six of the Northanger Seven were published by Minerva. However many titles were anonymous, including such novels as Count Roderic's Castle (1794), The Haunted Castle (1794), The Animated Skeleton (1798) and The New Monk (1798) . Authors who wrote for Minerva Press are obscure today, and its market became negligible after the death of its charismatic founder.
Lane was succeeded as proprietor of the Minerva Press by his partner, Anthony King (A.K.) Newman, who gradually dropped the Minerva name from his books' title pages during the 1820s. Later books published by the press bear the imprint "A. K. Newman & Co." with no further mention of the Minerva Press.
In the twentieth century, the name Minerva Press was used by at least one publisher; however, this has no connection with the original Minerva Press.
External links
- Expanded history of Minerva Press (About half way down the page)
- Additional information relating to Minerva and their demise Collated by Rob Wassell, author of REM, published by Minerva Press