FABER & FABER
2009 celebrates the eightieth anniversary of the publishers Faber & Faber, founded by Geoffrey Faber in 1929, although the name implies a partnership it was pure invention, T. S. Eliot soon joined him as a literary advisor.
Launched with Siegfried Sassoon's 'Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man' and T. S. Eliot's 'Poems 1909-1925' in the first season the establishment of Faber & Faber as a major publisher of singular importance was astonishingly rapid. After just a dozen years Faber had founded its everlasting reputation as the pre-eminent publisher of poetry - W. H. Auden, T. S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, Stephen Spender and Louis MacNeice. Richard de la Mare had seen to it that the early books were beautifully produced and then in 1941 Bernard Wolpe became the resident jacket designer (a position he would hold for thirty five years) the fusion of literature and design was quite complete, the quality and pattern now set for decades. Post War saw the addition of Ted Hughes, Thom Gunn, Sylvia Plath, Philip Larkin and Seamus Heaney. In addition to Faber's strong list of Nobel Prize winning poets their list of novelists to include Booker Prize winning authors such as Kazuo Ishiguro and Peter Carey.
Faber & Faber was founded in 1929 by Geoffrey Faber, although the name implies a partnership it was pure invention, T. S. Eliot joined him as a literary advisor and subsequently published his Poems 1909-1925 in the first season. The board was increased to include Richard de la Mare, Charles Stewart and Frank Morely – this team of highly intelligent, young individuals built up a comprehensive and wide ranging catalogue.
Poetry was the prime element of the publishing at Faber & Faber and the list of poets grew steadily under the careful eye of T. S. Eliot. A list of some of the most recognised poets up to the present:
Wychwood Books presents a selection of Poetry from Faber & Faber:
[A full listing of Faber & Faber books can be found here.]
