Fact Finder - Arts and Literature

Fact
The Invention of the Paperback
Category
Arts and Literature
Subcategory
Writers and Artists
Country
United Kingdom
Description
In 1935, Allen Lane, the founder of Penguin Books, revolutionized reading by making high-quality literature affordable for the masses. At the time, books were expensive hardback items reserved for the wealthy. Lane wanted a book that cost 'the same as a pack of cigarettes.' To make them stand out, Penguin used a simple, color-coded design: orange for fiction, blue for biographies, and green for crime. They were sold not just in bookstores, but in railway stations and drugstores. This democratization of literature led to a massive increase in literacy and the spread of ideas, proving that the format of a book is just as important as the words inside it for cultural impact.