Why ‘Barbican’? people ask us.
When we were founded, back in 2009, home was just a short walk away from the Barbican in Plymouth. Even then we had a sense of going global, and wanted a name that could work for speakers of all languages. So Barbican Press it was.
The Barbican, Krakow, Poland
And a barbican is what we build for our writers: somewhere strong, encircling, that protects them and empowers them in a tough world. Our clearest image of that kind of barbican is the Barbican in Krakow.
Our base moved to Hull – whch remains a spiritual home, and the actual home to a number of our writers. We’ve been on the move since and now have several homes: London, Lowestoft and Los Angeles.
With that addition of Los Angeles in 2023 we’ve gone global, at last. Publishers Group West are with us all the way, and we now publish new work simultaneously in the USA / Canada and the United Kingdom. Our first was Peter Thornton’s new verse translation of Petrarch’s Canzoniere, which brings that classic work thrillingly to life in English.
Surprisingly (these things creep up on you) we have a full schedule planned through to the end of 2025: EXCITING new books that take readers all around the world, and engage them in the precarious, complex challenge of how to live now. Expect new pins in our somewhat quirky map page.
We are strong on editorial, so some of these works are still being nurtured, in the safety our our barbican’s walls. Pop back for news!
