At Peter Lang International Academic Publishers, our name reflects our mission: to connect with and publish for a truly global audience. We achieve this by publishing in multiple languages with the support of a diverse international team of Acquisition Editors. Our titles cross regional and language barriers, catering of course to their specific target audiences but ensuring that access to valuable research is not limited by geographical borders. Every book we publish aspires to a global readership. 

However, our commitment to ‘thinking globally’ is balanced by a deep understanding of the power of local connections. 

Personal Stories, Universal Themes

A recent title, A ‘proper’ woman? One woman’s story of success and failure in academia perfectly exemplifies this balance. A deeply personal memoir exploring the author’s experiences over a 46-year career in academic institutions across Ireland and the UK, the subject matter is intricately linked to the author’s physical and cultural space. Even the title, with its reference to a ‘proper’ woman, grounds the narrative in the specific societal expectations of the author’s time and place. Naturally, we would expect such a title to resonate more strongly with readers from the same region or those who have similar experiences. A sense of place helps to ground the title and provide an authentic and relatable voice for the author.

However, the power of A ‘proper’ woman? lies not just in its localized perspective, but in its exploration of universal themes. Professor Pat O’Connor explores experiences of devaluation, marginalisation, and disempowerment. These are not unique to academia or Irish society; they are universal human experiences. Readers from vastly different backgrounds can still find themselves reflected in the struggles and triumphs of the author, encouraging a sense of connection. These themes can connect readers across cultures and locations so that even a book with a keen sense of place can add value to a global audience, highlighting the shared threads and perhaps offering inspiration for those facing similar challenges. 

By exploring these universal themes through a localized lens, A ‘proper’ woman? offers a deeper understanding of the human condition. Professor O’Connor’s journey highlights the challenges faced by many women in academia, but also the resilience and determination required to overcome them. This resonates with readers across the globe who have faced similar struggles for equality, regardless of their specific location or background.

Universal Themes, Local Recognition

One of the most important roles of a publisher is to recognize and support that balance between global relevance and a localized sense of place, to maximize the exposure and readership for each title. Sometimes we come across a book review that details this so perfectly for a title, all we need to do is share it.

A recent review by Dr Evelyn Mahon in the Sunday Independent explores what makes Professor O’Connor’s book so deeply personal. Dr Mahon quotes Professor O’Connor as writing “In the Ireland I grew up in, it was very clear that domesticity, self-abnegation and self-sacrifice were key motifs in defining a ‘proper’ woman.” The review recognizes that this is a candid memoir from someone whose experiences were defined in many ways by the context of time and place. For this reason, it is particularly important that we see the title reviewed in an Irish newspaper, as perhaps in many ways some references are best understood by an audience close geographically as well as ideologically. 

Dr Mahon though, also highlights some of the most important takeaways of this fascinating book, that those challenges faced by Professor O’Connor paved the way to both success and failure and that “O’Connor’s contribution to a changing Irish academia is to be applauded.” It is a universal truth that only people fighting against inequality will make positive change happen, and that path is not always smooth. This drive for equality, particularly in academic institutions, is another topic of global relevance with Dr Mahon highlighting a strength of the book as “understanding the way in which gender differences are reproduced within academic institutions.” The review touches on so many of the core themes and excellently summarizes why this book is an invaluable read for so many.

As a publishing company, we see A ‘proper’ woman? as a title that exemplifies the powerful narratives that come when a book with a strong sense of place tackles universal themes. It allows readers to connect with the author’s experiences on a personal level, while also offering broader insights into the human condition and the ongoing fight for equality. This interplay is what allows it to resonate with the global audience and leave a lasting impact, and we thank Dr Mahon for the recognition of that in this review. 

You can find the full review here: A Proper Woman review: Pat O’Connor’s engaging memoir reveals the inequities of academia | Irish Independent

Discover the book: https://www.peterlang.com/document/1376191

Peter Lang Group is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with OpenAthens Federation, a significant step in our ongoing dedication to delivering a seamless and secure experience for users seeking access to our digital resources. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to facilitating global access to Peter Lang Group’s extensive collection by enabling OpenAthens’ single sign-on capabilities for our titles.

OpenAthens offers librarians and users a simplified, integrated experience both on and off-site, increasing the accessibility of valuable knowledge and research. This aligns with Peter Lang’s fundamental mission of disseminating critical, high-quality research to the global academic community.

Librarians can now choose from nearly 20,000 digital books spanning the humanities and social sciences for their users, with an addition of 1,100 new print and digital publications annually. This portfolio ensures that users have access to cutting-edge research across various disciplines. Our partnership with OpenAthens means that libraries who choose from the Peter Lang collection can now benefit from simple and secure access.

“Patterns of learning and study continue to evolve, as does the technology that supports scholarly publishing. OpenAthens is delighted to work with Peter Lang to ensure their high-quality knowledge and research is simpler and easier to access wherever the learning takes place.” Jon Bentley, Commercial Director, OpenAthens

To learn more about how Peter Lang works with academic libraries, visit www.peterlang.com/our-services/libraries

To learn more about OpenAthens federated single sign-on, visit http://openathens.pub/IPvsOpenAthens

Much like the libraries they reside in, academic books have a very classic image. To talk of academic libraries most people conjure up mental images of rows of books with slightly dusty covers, wooden panelling and a hushed atmosphere. Academic books are expected to be dry, serious tomes filled with long words and complicated ideas with pictures restricted to technical diagrams. And let’s not forget the stereotypical librarian and academic — both serious creatures who speak quietly and dress classically.

Yes, there are some academic libraries with wooden panelling and a hushed atmosphere holding beautiful stacks of books, large worn wooden tables and a distinct smell that brings a smile to any bibliophile’s face. And there are certainly dry academic titles with incredibly complex ideas held within their pages, best suited only to the avid reader. And yes, there will also be academics who by their nature are serious and quiet and well-dressed. Beyond that though, is an academic world of more variety and innovation and colour.

Anyone who has visited an academic library in recent times, particularly one that has been revamped and invested in, will know that an academic library is not just a place for quiet study anymore. No more librarians shushing students for coughing or breathing too loudly as the old stereotype suggests. Just as learning has evolved the library is now a multi-functional space for learners to collaborate and explore new ideas and concepts. Modern libraries are designed with learning at their heart with colour, light, and technology all playing their part. Librarians reflect these changes with their focus not just on crafting the perfect book and journal collections for their users but on how they can best support collaboration, learning, and technological advances in the space.

So what about academic books? What does a modern academic title look like?

Well, one thing we know is that they aren’t serious, text-heavy books. The academic world is diverse these days with academics studying everything from sexuality to vampires, from democracy to video games and titles reflect this. Images are increasingly important across many academic subjects.

Graphic Medicine

Graphic novels have bridged the gap between ‘comic’ and ‘academic’ and now serve as a format in their own right for graphic medicine. In this instance the pairing of academic research with a graphic novel format offers a softened narrative, weaving in the emotions and personal experiences that underlie all medical research. It brings the research to a more accessible place. This can be especially important for research in areas where there is expected to be a broad readership made up of medical professionals, researchers, patients themselves, and family members affected.

One such title is ‘Moving along — A co-produced graphic novel about Parkinson’s dance’ by Lisbeth Frølunde, Louise Phillips and Maria Bee Christensen-Strynø. This beautiful book is a graphic novel based on personal experiences of living with Parkinson’s Disease. More specifically it is around the value that movement and dance have for those with the disease. Written for use across the fields of arts and health, medical humanities, graphic medicine and narrative medicine, the format makes it an accessible title for the layperson as well where other medical texts may seem intimidating. Most importantly though the graphic images help to convey the movement and joy the book itself explores. It is hard to imagine words alone being able to capture the impact freedom in dance has on someone living with the restrictions Parkinson’s places on the body.

“Dancing brings joy, energy, and community, and thereby strengthens the will to live, all important when a chronic illness turns your world upside down.”
Moving along — A co-produced graphic novel about Parkinson’s dance

Film Studies

Another genre in which images hold value is film studies. In the past film studies may have been focused on classic films that students and researchers were expected to have already watched. These days though the sheer quantity of films produced around the world makes this implausible. In the US and Canada alone, the average is 600 films a year, and with streaming services and the increased use of language dubbing and captions more and more people are choosing to watch films that originate outside of their country and language. With such a vast repository of source material for academic study it is no surprise that genre studies are increasingly diverse.

One series ‘Genre Fiction and Film Companions’ seeks to provide accessible introductions to key texts within the most popular genres of our time. The latest title ‘The Deep’, edited by Marko Teodorski and Simon Bacon, explores the myths and legends of merfolk and sea monsters and our fascination with the sea, from mythological representations through to present-day visions. Consider how many films explore a relationship with the sea or the creatures that reside in it. From disaster films with a vicious, untamed sea, to the romance genre where the sea offers an escape, to fantasy films that offer up entirely new worlds to explore underwater. To expect a reader to have seen every film up for discussion would be unreasonable and yet to explore the nuances of a scene they need to have seen it, to have the same sense of panic or escape or wonder that the author has recognized. This is why images are so important. Even if a reader has never seen the film, a single image can share details with them about lighting, colour, and costume design, all of which play a part in the analysis of a film regardless of theme.

In addition, for the exploration of film and fiction genres such as ‘The Deep’ which crosses borders of both time and space, it is of the utmost importance to ground the analysis in the culture in which the film and story was created. The understanding of one mythological creature might differ between countries, and perhaps only by illustration can the reader truly understand the same and connect with it.

“The idea of ‘The Deep’ is as culturally specific as it is transcultural”
The Deep — A Companion

Art & Architecture

Similar needs can be found in art and architectural history titles. Excluding the most obvious reason — because art is a visual study — images are often essential for architecture titles. This importance is not just limited to, for example, needing an image of a building to accompany an exploration of the Baroque style. Much like with graphic medicine, images can make architectural history accessible to all. One example would be ‘Denmark in Britain — Architecture, Design and Lifestyle, 1945−1970’ by Bruce Peter. This title explores how Denmark’s national image in Britain was changed by the admiration of its modern architecture and design. Images help to tell the story of this design and clearly show what it was that the British critics and consumers desired. Without images, it would be hard to fully explore the sense of interest in Danish creativity that was felt in Britain at the time and indeed, make the reader feel that same interest.

“This is a splendidly lucid and readable book, a distinctive and a distinguished contribution to Nordic Studies.”
Colin Roth, Centre for Nordic Studies, University of Sheffield

For art history, there are also titles which explore art that is no longer valid or accessible. With a medium such as painting, perhaps with enough words a reader can paint their own picture in their mind of a piece of art. But what about mediums that are confined to history? What about something like ivory, which is now in modern-day considered to be untouchable as a piece of art? ‘Or blanc. Sculpture en ivoire, Congo et discours colonial sous le règne de Léopold II (1885–1909)’ by Sébastien Clerbois is a fantastic example. The book offers a global history of ivory as an art form but unlike other mediums, that many people have experience of seeing and touching, ivory is no longer accepted. Without images to support it, the discourse around such a medium could feel too grounded in the modern understanding of it. Providing images helps the reader to remove their modern mindset and fully embrace art as understood in the context and timeframe the book explores.

History

Bringing the reader back to the appropriate timeframe and setting the context for a title is hugely important for academic titles. Much like historical fiction needs to fully set the scene for the reader, academic titles need to connect their reader to the world they explore. This is never more true than when considering archival history. Peter Raina has recently published two titles under ‘Devolution of Power to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: The Inner History’. Both volumes, ‘Tony Blair’s Cabinet Papers, 1997 Volume One, Devolution in Scotland and Wales’ and ‘Tony Blair’s Cabinet Papers, 1997 Volume Two, The Representative Government in Northern Ireland’ present the cabinet papers with commentary. It would be truly impossible to provide such a commentary without offering the Crown documents (reproduced under open license) for the reader to consider. More specifically though, the documents and the illustrations in the text connect the reader to the time they were created. They bring history to life and make understanding and critiquing the decisions made at the time more accessible to the reader.

“It is perhaps the most signal achievement of the era and this expertly curated collection on its genesis and evolution is unquestionably of permanent value.”
Professor Marc Mulholland, Professor of Modern History, Oxford

The Power of the Image

Perhaps it is an academic title itself that can summarize what imagery means in academic research? The Power of the Image in the Work of Lídia Jorge, edited by Nazaré Torrão and José Cândido de Oliveira Martins is a study of the image in the work of Lídia Jorge. Jorge herself has asserted several times that her writing takes a powerful and inspiring image as its starting point and this image concentrates the reflections and ideas explored through her texts. It can be considered that it is not just the images in the final text, for the reader, that hold importance, but also the images that inspire the author and drive them to explore ideas and share them with the world.

“Scholars point out that whenever language opens to universal images and mythologies capable of conveying visions of clarity, the subversive power of beauty is re-asserted”
The Power of the Image in the Work of Lídia Jorge

It is clear that the academic book, like the library and the librarian, has and continues to evolve. Words will forever remain the main tool of the academic but perhaps there is room for another set of tools, the illustrations, images, and photographs that support those words. Words might tell the story of the academic research but an image can tell the story of the world that built that research.

Contact: Marketing@peterlang.com

The Peter Lang Group partners with Zeitfracht Medien GmbH to continue their commitment of worldwide availability and distribution of their list for the DACH market.

“English literature is becoming more and more popular in Germany. As the largest and most modern book wholesaler in Germany, we want to serve local retailers and their customers quickly and reliably in this segment with as many titles as possible. Our print-on-demand process provides a considerable logistical advantage, protects the environment, and reduces transport distances. We already have more than 300,000 English titles from major non-fiction and specialist book publishers in our portfolio.
I am very pleased that with Peter Lang, we have the complete front- and backlist available to the German market, with over 50 percent in English, Spanish, and French language.” Kay Wissendorf, Leiter Print on Demand & Leiter operativer Einkauf 

Peter Lang Group CEO, Arnaud Béglé, states “The Peter Lang Group is thrilled to expand cooperation with Zeitfracht as a trusted business partner for print-on-demand supply of our titles in multiple languages.  The speed to market and excellent quality Zeitfracht provides will surely benefit the Peter Lang total customer experience whether it be bookshop, library, or individual.”

Contact Zeitfracht Medien GmbH to fulfill your order of Peter Lang titles today.

Contact: marketing@peterlang.com 

The Peter Lang Group are excited to be attending the 2023 London Book Fair, with new collaborations onboard and projects underway. With a global leadership team that embodies the services and values of the company, the company continues to work towards meeting the digital needs of the changing world and supporting the dissemination of scholarly work in a sustainable way. The Peter Lang leadership team combines extensive experience across academic publishing with a strategic interest in investments, technology, and business strategy and is well-positioned to meet these goals.

With the recent opening of Peter Lang Pvt Ltd in Chennai, India, Peter Lang continues its commitment to expansion in the East and offering global publishing expertise at a local level. The regional team, Indrani Dutta acquiring in Social Sciences, and Nandini Ganguli for the Humanities list, will work closely with the global finance and sales teams. Together they offer the scholarly community regional distribution of academic content at INR market pricing.

Peter Lang continues to build pace with key projects and internal investments. As well as the recently announced increased title availability with Gardners Books Ltd and Zeitfracht for customer fulfillment in the UK, Germany, and beyond, there are now over 27,000 titles available via PoD and more than 18,000 eBooks.

The 2023 Emerging Scholars Competition recently announced its winners and Peter Lang is thrilled to be able to support exciting new voices in fields including Ethnography, Hispanic & Latin American Studies, and Utopian Studies. For the full list of winners visit: https://www.peterlang.com/winners-announced-for-the-2022-peter-lang-emerging-scholars-competition/

Continuing the focus on Open Access, Peter Lang remains committed to the Greenlight pilot project in collaboration with Jisc. Alongside this, the global sales team is investing in new offerings and packages for academic librarian customers to better support this important channel.

If you are attending the 2023 London Book Fair be sure to stop by the Peter Lang Group exhibit at stand 7E50 with IPG to speak with us about our new ventures.

Truly ‘All In’ as a global team, we’re passionate about the work that we do and the scholarly community and research we support.

Check out our video about Peter Lang at the 2023 London Book Fair and discover what the team is most looking forward to during the event.

Peter Lang is delighted to announce the results of the 2022 Peter Lang Emerging Scholars Competition in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies:

Winner in Ethnography
Itzel Abril Tinoco González 
Mujeres centroamericanas en el centro de México: 
Trayectorias migratorias, violencias y circulación de cuidados  

Winner in Hispanic & Latin American Studies
Francisco José García Ramos
VIH y sida en el audiovisual español e iberoamericano.
Discursos y representaciones tras el cambio de siglo  

Joint Winners in Literature & Culture
Peyker Özler
Queer(ing) Practices of Women’s Temporalities: 
A Reflection on the Selected Works of Romana Petri, Simona Vinci, Elvira Dones, and Valeria Parrella  

Isabella Villanova
The Politics of Gender in Nigerian and Zimbabwean Women’s Fiction: 
Agencies and Strategies of Resistance  

Winner in Media & Communication
Charlin Nukul
The Third Sex: Beyond a Gender Binary in Thai Culture and Films  

Winner in Utopian Studies
Chiara Xausa
Intersectional World-Making in Climate Fiction:
Toward a Decolonial Ecofeminist Imaginary of the Environmental Crisis  

We congratulate our winners! Thank you to our distinguished editorial board and to all those who took part in the competition.

The Peter Lang Emerging Scholars Competition is an annual competition in selected fields. Please check back here for announcements about upcoming competitions next year.

For more information, please contact Dr Laurel Plapp, Senior Acquisitions Editor, Peter Lang Oxford. E-mail: l.plapp@peterlang.com.

The Peter Lang Group is pleased to announce increased title availability with Gardners Books Ltd for customer fulfillment in the UK and beyond.
As Gardners, located in Eastbourne, UK is a well-known provider of books and media products in Europe, their recent partnership with CPI UK allows for immediate service to clients locally and globally.
With over 25,000 Peter Lang titles available PoD via CPI UK, customers can now order direct from Gardners to meet market demands swiftly and accurately. 
Feel free to contact the Peter Lang Group (sales@peterlang.com) or Gardners (uksales@gardners.com) with any questions.

The Peter Lang Group is delighted to announce the addition of Peter Lang Pvt Ltd in Chennai. With the opening of this office in December 2022, we are continuing our commitment to the needs of Indian scholars and global expansion in the East.

Our local editorial team consists of Indrani Dutta, acquiring in Social Sciences, and Nandini Ganguli for the Humanities list. The Finance team is supported by Varsha Vijay. Together with the global sales team, the goal is to offer the scholarly community regional distribution of academic content at INR market pricing. The close collaboration between the global and local teams will be a key component as we continue to develop our regional strategy.

Join us on the countdown to Christmas and discover a little surprise every day.

We will show you something interesting, something worth knowing or something to brighten up the pre-Christmas period.”

Check out our Advent Calendar

Contact: Marketing@peterlang.com

The Peter Lang Group plans its return to the 2022 Frankfurt Book Fair after several years restructuring and creating new collaborations. As the world has been in transition since the global pandemic, the Peter Lang Group has been busy reinventing themselves after facing serious challenges in their business. The scholarly publisher, established in 1970, is under the direction of the new global leadership team, with its headquarters based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Peter Lang is working in particular with Newgen KnowledgeWorks Pvt Ltd to help bring their mission of championing research, to realization.

This resolute team, most with a long tenure within the company, is practicing what they preach. They have been quietly making investments in technology, a shift to zero inventory fulfilment and adding key editorial staff. These changes allow the group to provide a set of advanced services to academics, libraries, researchers and students who share their dedication to the dissemination of scholarly work. Peter Lang continues its commitment to global expansion in the East with the opening of a new office in India – Peter Lang Pvt Ltd.
Currently the group is working towards digitizing its rich 40,000+ title backlist in the Humanities and Social Sciences to meet the digital needs of the changing world. The additional agreements with global print on demand distributors such as Ingram Publisher Services, Zeitfracht, Amazon, Books on Demand and Books International will ensure swift availability to the marketplace. The annual Emerging Scholars Competition has ensured Peter Lang’s editorial list includes research from some of the most exciting new scholars in the field. With the recent launch of the Greenlight pilot project in collaboration with Jisc, Peter Lang continues to build its Open Access programme and supports new business models for library collection.

Arnaud Béglé, Group CEO, emphasizes “The Peter Lang Group is focused on publishing unique academic research that empowers a community of dedicated authors to reach eager readers. Our worldwide partnerships coupled with our motivated team’s ‘All in’ attitude guarantee fast delivery of high-quality products on paper and beyond.”

As a top 10 ranking publisher with the Spanish National Research Council, Peter Lang is excited to promote titles in Spanish language, history and culture in honour of the Frankfurt Book Fair’s special guest, Spain. If you are attending the 2022 Frankfurt Book Fair be sure to stop by the Peter Lang Group exhibit with LivreSuisse E15 in Hall 3.1 to speak with us about our new mission and the offerings we have for the academic community.

Please do check out our video about Peter Lang at the 2022 Frankfurt Book Fair.