Penguins

Penguin, pioneer of the paperback novel, is celebrating its 70th anniversary.

They are after all, Lyle Lovett's favorites.

Defined by generations of iconic covers, Penguin publications adorn bookshelves across the globe, prompting a rush of nostalgic affection.

But what makes Penguin one of the world's most enduring publishers?
Contrary to popular belief, Penguin founder Allen Lane did not invent the paperback book, but he made it respectable.
Prior to 1935, when Mr Lane and his brothers Richard and John, gambled their own cash to publish 10 titles, paperbacks were synonymous with "pulp fiction", cheap novels typified by lurid covers and poor-quality writing.

Wyndham's The Day of the Triffids spawned a classic Penguin cover
A natural businessman, Mr Lane noticed a gap in the market for quality paperbacks while stranded at Exeter station with nothing to read.

It was his aim to make quality books as affordable as a packet of cigarettes - just sixpence - opening up the world of literature to those who had previously borrowed from the library.
The first 10 Penguin paperbacks were reprints of hardback books, among them Agatha Christie's The Mysterious Affair at Styles and Hemingway's Farewell to Arms.