Queen Anne Press
Encyclopedia
The Queen Anne Press is a small private press. It was created in 1951 by Lord Kemsley, proprietor of the Sunday Times, to publish the works of comtemporary authors. In 1952, as a wedding present to his then Foreign Editor, Kemsley made Ian Fleming
its managing director. The press concentrated on producing finely printed and bound editions, often with small limitations. Lycett states that under Fleming's management, the company was modelled on the Black Sun Press
, run by the poet Harry Crosby
, nephew of financier J.P. Morgan. Director Ann Fleming, the socialite wife of Ian Fleming (and a long-time correspondent of Evelyn Waugh
, requested support for the press from her literary friends, which included Noel Coward
, Nancy Mitford
and Stephen Spender
. She asked Waugh in particular "please write me ten thousand words on some saint with interesting habits". Waugh proposed to collect a few robust reviews under the title Offensive Matter. This was shelved, however, in favour of an illustrated book The Holy Places, which had previously only been published in periodical form. The book, with engravings by Reynolds Stone
(a protege of John Betjeman
, according to Waugh), was ready in time for Christmas, 1952. In the early years, the press also published works by other highly respected authors including travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor
and the essayist Cyril Connolly
, whose book The Missing Diplomats, a scoop on the Cambridge Spy Ring, was a popular work, prompting Ann to write "business is flourishing" A possible purchase of the press by Ian and Ann Fleming was considered in 1954-5, but although a price was dicussed it appears the sale never came to fruition. Fleming remained at the helm until his death in 1964, and the press was subsequently absorbed by the publishing empire of Robert Maxwell
, becoming an imprint specialising in sporting books. In 2007 the Queen Anne Press was acquired by Ian Fleming's literary estate.
Queen Anne Press also published the periodical journal The Book Collector (formerly The Book Handbook), whose editorial board consisted of bibliophiles Michael Sadleir
, John Hayward, John Carter
, Percy Muir and Ian Fleming
. Queen Anne Press have also printed the yearly sporting annuals Wisden's Almanack, Rothman's Football Yearbook and Rothman's Snooker Yearbook.
novels, starting with Casino Royale
(1953); two volumes of Bond short stories; a book of travel journalism, Thrilling Cities; a nonfictional account of the diamond trade, The Diamond Smugglers; and the children’s book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
. A brand new collection was included, entitled Talk of the Devil; a posthumous volume of rarely seen material, some of it unpublished, the title being taken from a list that Fleming kept in his notebook. The complete works were issued in three different bindings by master bookbinders Sangorski & Sutcliffe
; a full leather set with leather onlay designs, quarter vellum bindings in the style of Fleming's only Signed Limited Edition, On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963), and in full blue book-cloth, with gilt-titled and decorated leather labels.
Queen Anne Press have recently published deluxe limited editions of Brazilian Adventure
and News from Tartary
; two popular works of non-fiction from Ian's elder brother Peter Fleming, the travel writer. The press is currently working on a special centenary edition of the writings of Mervyn Peake
, limited to 150 sets.
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
its managing director. The press concentrated on producing finely printed and bound editions, often with small limitations. Lycett states that under Fleming's management, the company was modelled on the Black Sun Press
Black Sun Press
The Black Sun Press was an English language book publisher founded in 1927 as Éditions Narcisse by poet Harry Crosby and his wife Caresse Crosby , American expatriates living in Paris...
, run by the poet Harry Crosby
Harry Crosby
Harry Crosby was an American heir, a bon vivant, poet, publisher, and for some, epitomized the Lost Generation in American literature. He was the son of one of the richest banking families in New England, a member of the Boston Brahmin, and the nephew of Jane Norton Grew, the wife of financier J....
, nephew of financier J.P. Morgan. Director Ann Fleming, the socialite wife of Ian Fleming (and a long-time correspondent of Evelyn Waugh
Evelyn Waugh
Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
, requested support for the press from her literary friends, which included Noel Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
, Nancy Mitford
Nancy Mitford
Nancy Freeman-Mitford, CBE , styled The Hon. Nancy Mitford before her marriage and The Hon. Mrs Peter Rodd thereafter, was an English novelist and biographer, one of the Bright Young People on the London social scene in the inter-war years...
and Stephen Spender
Stephen Spender
Sir Stephen Harold Spender CBE was an English poet, novelist and essayist who concentrated on themes of social injustice and the class struggle in his work...
. She asked Waugh in particular "please write me ten thousand words on some saint with interesting habits". Waugh proposed to collect a few robust reviews under the title Offensive Matter. This was shelved, however, in favour of an illustrated book The Holy Places, which had previously only been published in periodical form. The book, with engravings by Reynolds Stone
Reynolds Stone
Alan Reynolds Stone CBE RDI was a noted English engraver, designer, typographer and painter of the 20th century.Much of his work was done in the field of printing and publishing, as a designer of typefaces, book jackets and bookplates. In 1949 he redesigned the famous clock logo of The Times...
(a protege of John Betjeman
John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman, CBE was an English poet, writer and broadcaster who described himself in Who's Who as a "poet and hack".He was a founding member of the Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture...
, according to Waugh), was ready in time for Christmas, 1952. In the early years, the press also published works by other highly respected authors including travel writer Patrick Leigh Fermor
Patrick Leigh Fermor
Sir Patrick "Paddy" Michael Leigh Fermor, DSO, OBE was a British author, scholar and soldier, who played a prominent role behind the lines in the Cretan resistance during World War II. He was widely regarded as "Britain's greatest living travel writer", with books including his classic A Time of...
and the essayist Cyril Connolly
Cyril Connolly
Cyril Vernon Connolly was an English intellectual, literary critic and writer. He was the editor of the influential literary magazine Horizon and wrote Enemies of Promise , which combined literary criticism with an autobiographical exploration of why he failed to become the successful author of...
, whose book The Missing Diplomats, a scoop on the Cambridge Spy Ring, was a popular work, prompting Ann to write "business is flourishing" A possible purchase of the press by Ian and Ann Fleming was considered in 1954-5, but although a price was dicussed it appears the sale never came to fruition. Fleming remained at the helm until his death in 1964, and the press was subsequently absorbed by the publishing empire of Robert Maxwell
Robert Maxwell
Ian Robert Maxwell MC was a Czechoslovakian-born British media proprietor and former Member of Parliament , who rose from poverty to build an extensive publishing empire...
, becoming an imprint specialising in sporting books. In 2007 the Queen Anne Press was acquired by Ian Fleming's literary estate.
Notable Publications
- Evelyn WaughEvelyn WaughArthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
.The Holy Places With Wood Engravings by Reynolds Stone (1952). Limited to 950 copies (50 were specially bound in leather and signed by both author and illustrator). - T.S. Eliot. A Presidential Address to the Members of the London Library (1952).
- Cyril ConnollyCyril ConnollyCyril Vernon Connolly was an English intellectual, literary critic and writer. He was the editor of the influential literary magazine Horizon and wrote Enemies of Promise , which combined literary criticism with an autobiographical exploration of why he failed to become the successful author of...
. The Missing Diplomats (1952). Introduced by Peter Quennell, the book concerns concerns Guy BurgessGuy BurgessGuy Francis De Moncy Burgess was a British-born intelligence officer and double agent, who worked for the Soviet Union. He was part of the Cambridge Five spy ring that betrayed Western secrets to the Soviets before and during the Cold War...
, Donald MacLean and the infamous Cambridge Spy Ring. - [Sir] Patrick Leigh FermorPatrick Leigh FermorSir Patrick "Paddy" Michael Leigh Fermor, DSO, OBE was a British author, scholar and soldier, who played a prominent role behind the lines in the Cretan resistance during World War II. He was widely regarded as "Britain's greatest living travel writer", with books including his classic A Time of...
. A Time to Keep Silence (1953) Limited edition of 500 copies. - John CarterJohn Carter (Author)John Waynflete Carter was an English author, diplomat, bibliographer, book-collector, antiquarian bookseller and Vice-President of the Bibliographical Society of London. After attending Eton College, he studied classics at King's College, Cambridge, where he gained a double first...
. The A.E Housman Manuscripts (1956). - Enoch PowellEnoch PowellJohn Enoch Powell, MBE was a British politician, classical scholar, poet, writer, and soldier. He served as a Conservative Party MP and Minister of Health . He attained most prominence in 1968, when he made the controversial Rivers of Blood speech in opposition to mass immigration from...
. Great Parliamentary Occasions (1960). - Serge Lemoine & Grania Forbes. The Sporting Royal Family (1962).
- Dudley Noble. Milestones in a Motoring Life (1969).
- Dr. T.F Gaskell. Using the Oceans (1970).
- Ken RosewallKen RosewallKenneth Robert Rosewall AM MBE is a former world top-ranking amateur and professional tennis player from Australia. He won 23 Majors including eight Grand Slam singles titles and before the Open Era a record fifteen Pro Slam titles . Rosewall won 9 slams in doubles with a career double grand slam...
. Play Tennis with Rosewall (1975). - Denis LawDenis LawDenis Law is a retired Scottish football player, who enjoyed a long and successful career as a striker from the 1950s to the 1970s....
. Denis Law; An Autobiography (1979). - Alan MinterAlan MinterAlan Minter is a former middleweight world champion boxer.-Amateur career:Minter was the 1971 ABA Middleweight Champion. He won the bronze medal at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games...
. Minter: An Autobiography (1980). - George BestGeorge BestGeorge Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
. Where Do I Go From Here; An Autobiography (1981). - Tony JacklinTony JacklinAnthony Jacklin CBE is an English golfer, who was the most successful British player of his generation. He was also the most successful European Ryder Cup captain ever.-Early life and education:...
. The First Forty Years (1985). - Mark LawrensonMark LawrensonMark Thomas Lawrenson is a former professional football player, a defender in the Liverpool and Irish football teams of the 1980s; he since became a radio, television and internet pundit for the BBC and Today FM. He was born in England, but played for the Republic of Ireland because his...
. The Autobiography. With a Foreword by Bob PaisleyBob PaisleyRobert "Bob" Paisley OBE was an English football half back turned manager. His association with Liverpool was to span nearly half a century including his contribution to the club, first as a player, then as a physiotherapist and coach, and finally as manager.In nine years as manager between 1974...
(1988). - Sir Donald Bradman.The Bradman Albums (1988).
- Jimmy WhiteJimmy WhiteJames Warren "Jimmy" White MBE is an English professional snooker player. Nicknamed the "Whirlwind" and popularly referred to as the "People's Champion", White is a multiple World Championship finalist renowned for losing each of the six finals he contested.White's extensive list of achievements,...
. Snooker Masterclass (1988). - John IrelandJohn IrelandJohn Ireland may refer to:* John Ireland , Anglican priest and philanthropist* John Ireland , American politician...
. Racing Characters (1988). - Ray FrenchRay FrenchRaymond James French MBE is a former rugby union and rugby league player who achieved the rare honour of representing his country at international level in both codes of the game. French won his four caps for the England national rugby union team in 1961 as a lock forward, playing in all four...
. 100 Greatest Rugby League Players (1989). - Peter AllissPeter AllissPeter Alliss is an English professional golfer, BBC television presenter and commentator, author and golf course designer. Alliss is known for his charismatic and unique style of commentary, often displaying a witty demeanour...
. 100 Greatest Golfers (1989). - Henry CooperHenry CooperHenry Cooper may refer to:*Sir Henry Cooper , British Heavyweight boxer*Henry Cooper from Tennessee*Henry Cooper , English recipient of the Victoria Cross...
. 100 Greatest Boxers (1990). - David CampeseDavid CampeseDavid Ian Campese , also known as Campo, is a former Australian rugby union player. Campese was capped by the Wallabies 101 times, and held the world record for the most tries in test matches until Daisuke Ohata scored his 65th try playing for Japan on 14 May 2006...
. On A Wing And A Prayer (1991). - Kevin KeeganKevin KeeganJoseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
. The Seventies Revisited, with Norman Giller (1994). - Reg GutteridgeReg GutteridgeReg Gutteridge, OBE was a boxing journalist and television commentator.Gutteridge was born into a boxing family in Islington, London. His grandfather, Arthur, was the first professional boxer to appear at the original National Sporting Club...
, with Norman Giller. Mike Tyson: The Release of Power (1996).
Queen Anne Press also published the periodical journal The Book Collector (formerly The Book Handbook), whose editorial board consisted of bibliophiles Michael Sadleir
Michael Sadleir
Michael Sadleir was a British novelist and book collector.-Biography:He was born Michael Sadler, though upon beginning to publish novels he altered the spelling of his name to differentiate himself from his father, Michael Ernest Sadler, a historian and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds...
, John Hayward, John Carter
John Carter
-Politicians:*John Carter , New Zealand politician*John Carter , U.S. Representative from Texas*John Carter , U.S. Representative from South Carolina...
, Percy Muir and Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
. Queen Anne Press have also printed the yearly sporting annuals Wisden's Almanack, Rothman's Football Yearbook and Rothman's Snooker Yearbook.
Recent and current publications
Inspired by the centenary of Ian Fleming in 2008, the Queen Anne Press published a limited high quality edition of his complete works. During his lifetime Fleming wrote seventeen books: twelve James BondJames Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
novels, starting with Casino Royale
Casino Royale (novel)
Casino Royale is Ian Fleming's first James Bond novel. It paved the way for a further eleven novels by Fleming himself, in addition to two short story collections, followed by many "continuation" Bond novels by other authors....
(1953); two volumes of Bond short stories; a book of travel journalism, Thrilling Cities; a nonfictional account of the diamond trade, The Diamond Smugglers; and the children’s book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car is a children's book written by Ian Fleming for his son Caspar, with illustrations by John Burningham...
. A brand new collection was included, entitled Talk of the Devil; a posthumous volume of rarely seen material, some of it unpublished, the title being taken from a list that Fleming kept in his notebook. The complete works were issued in three different bindings by master bookbinders Sangorski & Sutcliffe
Sangorski & Sutcliffe
Sangorski & Sutcliffe is a firm of bookbinders established in London in 1901. It is considered to be one of the most important bookbinding companies of the 20th century, famous for its luxurious jeweled bindings that used real gold and precious stones in their book covers.Sangorski & Sutcliffe...
; a full leather set with leather onlay designs, quarter vellum bindings in the style of Fleming's only Signed Limited Edition, On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1963), and in full blue book-cloth, with gilt-titled and decorated leather labels.
Queen Anne Press have recently published deluxe limited editions of Brazilian Adventure
Brazilian Adventure
Brazilian Adventure is a book by Peter Fleming about his search for the lost Colonel Percy Fawcett in the Brazilian jungle. Fawcett along with his son and another companion had disappeared while searching for the Lost City of Z in 1925...
and News from Tartary
News from Tartary
News from Tartary: A Journey from Peking to Kashmir is a travel book by Peter Fleming describing his journey through time and the political situation of Turkestan....
; two popular works of non-fiction from Ian's elder brother Peter Fleming, the travel writer. The press is currently working on a special centenary edition of the writings of Mervyn Peake
Mervyn Peake
Mervyn Laurence Peake was an English writer, artist, poet and illustrator. He is best known for what are usually referred to as the Gormenghast books. They are sometimes compared to the work of his older contemporary J. R. R...
, limited to 150 sets.