Two years after the coronavirus forced a last-minute cancellation of the London Book Fair, four of America’s Big Five publishers will be sending small delegations to the fair, which runs April 5-7 at Olympia London.
Penguin Random House will not have anyone from the U.S. in London, and is leaving its participation at the event to its U.K subsidiary, although U.S. employees in certain departments will work with their U.K. colleagues. “We are looking forward to returning to an in-person London Book Fair this year, with a strong contingent from across Penguin Random House UK attending,” a spokesperson said.
Representatives from the other four major New York publishers stressed that those going to London will do so on a voluntary basis. “We have 10 people attending from the U.S., with representatives from publishing, subsidiary rights, and sales. All attendance, whether from the U.S. or our U.K. company, is on an entirely optional, voluntary basis,” an S&S spokesperson said. “We are appreciative of the steps and measures LBF has put in place to maintain the health and safety of our staff and the publishing community, and look forward to productive, in-person meetings with colleagues from around the world.”
Macmillan Trade US will be attending the fair in a limited fashion, a spokesperson confirmed. The contingent will include individuals from rights and editorial, who are attending the fair at their discretion, she added.
Hachette Book Group’s publishers will have a small contingent at London Book Fair this year, a spokesperson said. The HBG rights team, the spokesperson added, "will stay closely connected through video meetings with publishers and co-agents in the weeks leading up to the fair, and will be making separate trips to London after the fair."
HarperCollins is sending a small group of volunteers to London, a spokesperson said.
