On November 9, 2021, the Penguin Press will publish AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 BOOKS: A Literary Journey. 

Inspired by Jules Verne’s hero Phileas Fogg, author David Damrosch, chair of Harvard University’s department of comparative literature and founder of Harvard’s Institute for World Literature, set out to counter a pandemic’s restrictions on travel by exploring eighty exceptional books from around the globe. Following a literary itinerary from London to Venice, Tehran and points beyond, and via authors from Woolf and Dante to Nobel Prize–winners Orhan Pamuk, Wole Soyinka, Mo Yan, and Olga Tokarczuk, he explores how these works have shaped our idea of the world, and the ways in which the world bleeds into literature.

Bring on the celebration!

Each June in the USA and around the world, celebrations of LGBTQ Month include parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and Pride Month events attract millions of participants. As ever, PRH and its distributed clients have a multitude of books to recognize the impact that LGBTQ individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally, including Fiction and Non-Fiction.

In May, Americans pay tribute to generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success. At no time have these Americans needed to see the country acknowledge and celebrate the rich heritages thousands of years old and the people who have shaped United States history. 

Asian-Americans are the nation’s fastest-growing racial group, and for the last year have suffered considerably in an ever-present racist atmosphere. Encourage booksellers to show their support more than ever with a variety of ideas for promotion during this holiday.

One of our favorite holiday sales bumps is upon us, and this year we have the usual Mother’s Day classics plus an amazing list of recent and current bestselling titles ideal for promotions. There truly is a gift for every mother on this list. Examples are below and to seethe complete list: On the Backlist

Coming to Apple TV Plus in the fall of 2021, the adaptation of Asimov’s FOUNDATION series is described by TechRadar as “unquestionably one of the most high-profile original shows coming to the Apple TV Plus streaming service.”

Although many think of St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) as a day of parading and imbibing, St Patrick’s Day is a global celebration of Irish culture. It particularly remembers St Patrick, one of Ireland’s patron saints, who ministered Christianity in Ireland during the fifth century. To commemorate this holiday, bookstores and libraries may choose to focus on the wealth of exceptional writing by Irish writers, or books set in the country. 

New York Times-bestselling author Sharon Kay Penman was one of the foremost writers of historical fiction.  She passed away peacefully after a brief illness on January 22, 2021. Penman is the author of eleven historical novels most recently The Land Beyond the Sea (2020) and four medieval mysteries featuring Justin de Quincy, one of Sharon’s favorite characters. The Queen’s Man (1996) was a finalist for an Edgar Award for the year’s best mystery from the Mystery Writers of America.

Over five decades after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death, American society is still working towards the dream that he envisioned. These ten essential books shed light on these decades after Dr. King’s life, the Civil Rights movement, and show how his legacy has shaped the past half-century. These titles share the experiences of activists, lawyers, and journalists about the ongoing and necessary work towards racial equality. (Courtesy PRH.com)

Originally created to celebrate American’s first President, George Washington, and officially called “Washington’s Birthday,” this annual federal holiday is now used to honor and remember all past US presidents, and in particular Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. With consumers focused on the recent inauguration of a new President, interest may be especially keen this year to learn more about American leaders starting with President Washington and up to President Biden.

As Madeline noted in her recent email about the Inauguration, PRH is proud to publish books by authors who were central to this year’s Inauguration ceremony and celebrations, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Tom Hanks, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, as well as former Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama, and Mrs. Obama.

Herewith a highly curated list of Black History titles – classics and contemporary biographies, memoirs, essays, history, even poetry, from a broad spectrum of voices. Speaking to slavery, civil rights, the arts and current events, these books are a great starting point for Black History Month promotions as well as being essential to every bookstore and library inventory year-round.

Kicking off on Monday, October 26th and running through Monday, November 30th, Oprah Winfrey’s “The Books That Help Me Through” will feature 7 titles—5 of which are Penguin Random House titles—that have provided her solace during uncertain times. This series will be featured on Oprah’s Book Club, Twitter & Instagram accounts. Each week will be