Hodder & Stoughton

Hodder & Stoughton is one of the oldest and most respected publishing houses in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1868 by Matthew Henry Hodder and Thomas Wilberforce Stoughton, the company has built an international reputation for publishing bestselling fiction, non-fiction, biographies, history, crime novels, thrillers, literary fiction, and self-help books. Today, it operates as one of the flagship publishing divisions of Hachette UK, which is part of the global publishing group Hachette Livre, itself owned by the French media company Lagardère. The company's headquarters are located at Carmelite House, 50 Victoria Embankment, London, England.

Originally established on London's famous Paternoster Row, then the heart of Britain's publishing industry, Hodder & Stoughton initially specialized in religious books and educational works before expanding into commercial fiction and general non-fiction. Over more than 150 years, the publisher has successfully adapted to changing reading trends while maintaining a reputation for quality, innovation, and literary excellence. During its history, the company has introduced several influential publishing imprints, including Sceptre, Coronet, Yellow Kite, and Hodder Press, each serving different segments of the book market.

The publisher is especially well known for working with some of the world's most celebrated authors. Among its bestselling fiction writers are Stephen King, John Grisham, Jodi Picoult, David Nicholls, John Connolly, Peter Robinson, Sophie Hannah, David Mitchell, Jasper Fforde, Jean M. Auel, and Elizabeth George. Its non-fiction catalogue includes renowned figures such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Michael Caine, Lucy Worsley, Ranulph Fiennes, Hans Rosling, James Bowen, Gordon Ramsay, and Deliciously Ella. Throughout its history, Hodder & Stoughton has also published works by literary giants including J. M. Barrie, G. K. Chesterton, John Buchan, and Winston Churchill.

Many books published by Hodder & Stoughton have become international bestsellers and cultural landmarks. Among the publisher's most successful titles are The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, which has sold millions of copies worldwide; A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen; One Day by David Nicholls; John Grisham's legal thrillers; Stephen King's horror novels; The Clan of the Cave Bear, the first novel in Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series, which has sold more than 45 million copies worldwide; The Ascent of Everest by Sir John Hunt; Managing My Life by Sir Alex Ferguson; Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré; and Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier. These books have achieved both critical acclaim and enormous commercial success, with many being adapted into films or television series.

Although Hodder & Stoughton does not publicly disclose its own annual sales figures as a separate business unit, it forms one of the largest publishing divisions within Hachette UK, one of Britain's biggest publishing companies. Its titles consistently appear on The Sunday Times bestseller lists, and many have achieved multi-million-copy global sales. The publisher has earned numerous literary awards, including Booker Prize-winning works through its Sceptre imprint, while many of its authors have received major international honors and bestseller recognition.

The company's history includes several notable milestones. In 1921, it acquired ownership of the prestigious medical journal The Lancet. During the twentieth century it became famous for its innovative "Yellow Jacket" paperback series, which helped popularize affordable books for a mass audience. In 1993, Hodder & Stoughton became part of Hodder Headline following its acquisition by Headline Publishing Group, and in 2004 it joined Hachette Livre, where it remains a cornerstone of the company's English-language publishing business.

Today, Hodder & Stoughton publishes hundreds of new titles every year across fiction, crime, fantasy, literary fiction, biography, memoir, history, politics, science, health, cookery, and lifestyle. Its enduring success is built on discovering talented new writers while continuing long-term relationships with internationally bestselling authors. More than a century and a half after its founding, Hodder & Stoughton remains one of the world's most influential English-language publishers, recognized for its commercial success, literary prestige, and lasting contribution to global publishing.