Prelude Books has acquired the "majority of publishing assets" of the late Peter Mayer's company Duckworth Press for an undisclosed sum, the Bookseller reported. The deal coincides with the sale of Mayer's Overlook Press to Abrams earlier this week. Duckworth was founded 120 years ago and purchased in 2003 by Mayer, who died in May at the age of 82.
The new Duckworth imprint will release about 20 books a year with Prelude, focusing on popular science, memoir, history and psychology. It joins current imprints Prelude and Farrago, which focus on nonfiction and humorous fiction respectively. Head of trade sales Matt Casbourne will also join Prelude Books from Duckworth, reporting to publisher Pete Duncan.
"We are thrilled to welcome Duckworth to Prelude Books, and I am especially pleased that Matt will play an enlarged role in championing the list to the trade," said Duncan. "Peter Mayer did so much for U.K. publishing, before building the present-day Duckworth list, that it feels an honor to be in this position."