Little, Brown launches new PCR imprint

Little, Brown Book Group will launch a new literary imprint called The Bridge Street Press, devoted to “ideas-led non-fiction”, kicking off with a book by ex-Bank of England chief Mervyn King and economist John Kay. 

Tim Whiting, executive publisher of Piatkus Constable Robinson (PCR), will run the imprint as part of PCR. 

Bridge Street will publish a maximum of five new titles a year, including books from authors including Tim Harford and Sheena Iyengar, who Whiting has previously found success with. Whiting will commission most of the books himself on top of his current role but all non-fiction editors at PCR will also be able to acquire for the imprint.

Whiting said: “The world is full of content – we are all bombarded with it at every moment of every day. Books have a crucial role in this environment because only books can truly shift the needle in terms of new ideas making an impact. With Bridge Street, I have intentionally limited the number of slots available in order to raise the bar of entry to the highest possible level. It will also enable us to cut through all the noise, focusing attention on just a handful of new and unique ideas, expressed via excellent writing.”

He said the name was partly inspired by New Bridge Street near Hachette’s Carmelite House building in London, but “also conveys a sense of heritage and feels local wherever you are in the world”.

“This is an exciting time for PCR,” he added. “We are already growing fast, and delivering a higher number of frontlist successes than ever before, and the new imprint will add an extra dimension to our publishing programme. Although we will now have four imprints, the division will still be called PCR – three initials are enough.”

The Bridge Street Press will launch in March 2020 with Radical Uncertainty by ex-Bank of England chief King and economist Kay, billed as a guide to decision-making “beyond the numbers”.

Charlie King, m.d. of Little, Brown, said: “The launch of The Bridge Street Press is a hugely exciting moment for Little, Brown. We already have considerable strength in upmarket non-fiction here, and the new list – under Tim’s expert management at PCR – will add further depth, flair and focus in key subject areas. Tim has a superb track record of publishing big, definitive books from some of the best non-fiction writers in the business, and I am thrilled that Bridge Street will provide him and the team with a new platform from which to deliver further bestsellers.”