A&C Black Previous years

A&C Black are specialist book publishers in the fields of: ceramics; children’s education, fiction and music; the performing arts; reference; sport; travel (Blue Guides); and writing. A&C Black’s imprints include Adlard Coles Nautical (sailing), Christopher Helm and (recently acquired) Pica Press (ornithology) and Herbert Press (visual arts). Here are a few of our successes from these different areas.

Who's Who

Who’s Who is the standard reference source for accurate, detailed up-to-date information on people of influence and interest. Who’s Who lists people in all walks of life: the arts and sciences, business and finance, charities, the church, the civil service, education, entertainment and sport, government, the law, local government, the media, medicine, professional institutions and the trade unions. It contains over 30,000 biographies and each entry is carefully updated annually both from information supplied by biographees and from many individual sources of reference.

Blue Guides series

Blue Guides have long enjoyed a reputation among travel lovers as authoritative, accurate and detailed guidebooks. There are now some sixty titles in print including the new editions of Thomas Cook award-winning Turkey and best-selling Northern Italy. We also have the first five in our new Blue Guide City Guides: Amsterdam, Istanbul, Krakow, Madrid and Rome. With their unique combination of in-depth practical and cultural information, these are certain to become indispensable travelling companions.

… Blue Guide ‘sets the standard for travel guides’ Sunday Times

Black's Medical Dictionary

Now in its 39th edition, Black’s Medical Dictionary is the most comprehensive medical reference source for all non-medical professionals. This, together with Black’s Veterinary Dictionary (19th edition) an encyclopaedic dictionary with comprehensive coverage of animals, their diseases and the treatments available, have both been quoted in the recently published Report of the BSE Inquiry.

Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook

Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook is the number one bestselling guide, packed with essential information on markets in all areas of the media. Perennial features include listings of newspapers and magazines, book publishers, literary agents, television and film producers, together with markets for artists and photographers all of which are thoroughly revised and updated annually. It also includes articles on practical topics such as writing for television and radio, using the internet for research and general subjects of interest such as libel, income tax, social security and copyright.

The Handbook of Bird Identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic

The Handbook of Bird Identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic is the most comprehensive guide to identification of the birds of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East ever published. Its importance for birders within and outside the region is difficult to exaggerate. It is the first identification manual to cover all the species to have occurred in the region, nearly 900 in all, illustrating every one (including vagrants and accidentals) and showing the widest range of plumages ever to feature in a European guide.

‘,,, the definitive new identification reference for British and European birders for years to come. Congratulations to the authors, artists and publisher on this landmark achievement.’
Birdwatch Bird Book of the Year Winner

Know the Game series

The most comprehensive, and up-to-date series of introductory sports books available, and all endorsed by their sport’s governing body.

New Mermaids series

The aim of the New Mermaids series of classic plays is to make available and accessible to the interested but not necessarily expert reader or performer, plays of enduring theatrical importance and living interest. Since taking over the General Editorship of the series, Brian Gibbons (Professor of English at the University of Munster) has played an active part in renewing the established titles and giving greater emphasis to staging, stage history and illustrations.

Heavy Weather Sailing

Now accepted as the authority on surviving storms at sea, Heavy Weather Sailing is essential reading for all crews contemplating voyages out of sight of land. The latest edition brings a welter of expert advice from many of the great sailors of the present, followed by fresh accounts of yachts, both sail and power, overtaken by extreme weather.

'Peter Bruce’s edition is a new work in its own right, and the most important sailing book we are likely to see this year… The ultimate survival handbook.’ Yachting World

Developing Literacy series

The hugely successful Developing Literacy series now has three strands: Word-level, Sentence-level and Text-level. Each strand of these photocopiable teachers’ resources contains seven books, one for each primary year group from Reception to Year 6. Together with the two Developing Numeracy titles, Numbers and the number system and Problem Solving, they provide practical help for teachers and parents in improving children’s literacy and maths skills.

Graffix

Graffix is a series of graphic novels for 9-12 year olds in comic format. They are full of interest and ideal for reluctant readers (in particular, boys). The short chapters and compelling story lines make them very motivating to read. First launched three years ago the series has grown in popularity very quickly - mainly through word of mouth.

British Studio Potters’ Marks

British Studio Potters’ Marks is a must for all potters, collectors, museums, auction houses and shops. This first truly comprehensive directory of 20th-century British studio potters’ marks, gives biographical data, information on the type of ceramics produced, location of pottery(ies) and dates as to when the mark changed, along with examples of different marks used.

The Internet: A Writer’s Guide

The Internet: A Writer’s Guide is a comprehensive and easy to use guide exploring how journalists and writers can exploit the internet. Written by web expert Jane Dorner, the book examines areas such as internet research techniques, how to write for the internet, finding an agent, editor and publisher and how to get your work published online. The book is jargon-free and an invaluable guide for those interested in this burgeoning area.' Press Gazette

‘Dorner’s guide is a "must", destined to go through many editions, outshining all the competent and useful guides that fall short of being outstanding.' The Author

The Art of Dora Carrington

From the Foreword (by Michael Holroyd) to The Art of Dora Carrington: ‘Jane Hill’s book is very well timed. It will not be the last word on Carrington … but it is the most thorough examination of her work we have’.

‘Carrington has an appeal that does not wilt … her gaze saw things that haunt the imagination.’ Frances Spalding, Sunday Times

A Career Handbook for TV, Radio, Film, Video, & Interactive Media

Specialists from across the fast-changing media world have contributed ‘behind-the-scenes’ advice to provide this definitive guide to a career in these areas. Published in association with Skillset, the National Training Organisation for Broadcast, Film, Video and Multimedia.