Lane, Sir Allen (1902-1970), a British publisher, was a leader in the paperback revolution in British book publishing. His belief in the public’s desire for low-priced, high-quality reading material made the company he founded, Penguin Books, Ltd., one of the most successful publishing organizations in the English-speaking world.
Lane was born Allen Lane Williams on Sept. 21, 1902, in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. In 1919, he was apprenticed to his uncle John Lane, the publisher of the Bodley Head, London. While at the Bodley Head, Williams changed his name to Allen Lane. In 1936, he resigned to found Penguin Books, which quickly became a success. Lane started other publishing ventures, including the Pelican and Puffin series. Lane was knighted in 1952. He died on July 7, 1970.
