Read & Co. About Page

Founded in the mid-1970s as A. F. Read & Sons, Antiquarian Booksellers, we began life specialising in natural history and ornithology. Originally based on the edge of the Cotswolds, we ran a popular mail-order catalogue. Now, with almost 50 years of experience in the industry, Read & Co. is a dedicated book publisher with a big heart.

Breathing fresh life into well-loved books from the likes of Charles Dickens, L. M. Montgomery, Alice Dunbar Nelson, George Orwell, and Virginia Woolf, our vast backlist features esteemed works of classic fiction, poetry anthologies, beloved children’s stories, and fascinating non-fiction texts.

We also publish new and unique collated volumes of all genres, with an aim to revive forgotten voices and make beautiful books accessible to all. Our champion imprints include Art Meets Science, Wyrd Books, and Brilliant Women, as well as Fantasy and Horror Classics and our specialist poetry imprint, Ragged Hand.

Based in Bristol, our committed team works to preserve the magic and wisdom of old books and revive them for a new generation to enjoy. We believe in individuality, quality, and innovation, and always nurture these values while working on our new projects.

As an independently run book publisher, we’re proud to be able to hold sustainability at the core of our company. All Read & Co. books are printed on demand in their country of shipping, and are designed to be treasured for a lifetime. We’re working hard to preserve our favourite pieces of literature and are excited to see what the future brings.