Dady launches new indie Renard Press

A newly launched independent press has made clear its intention to "flesh out the literary classics canon" by publishing lesser known works and following a queer-led ethos.

Launched by Will Dady, a former editor and designer at Alma Books, London-based Renard Press will focus on titles across fiction, non-fiction, drama and poetry, releasing one book a month as of January 2021, focusing mainly on classics with some contemporary novels.

The classics list will be comprised of lesser-known works by "literary giants" and Dady vows to balance the list with an equal gender split across authors. Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own will be the first publication from the classics list and will be released in October, with works by Aphra Benn, Phillis Wheatley, Eliza Haywood, Bram Stoker and Leo Tolstoy to follow.

Renard will offer e-books and digital materials, with a particular emphasis on producing beautiful physical books.

Dady said: "I’m thrilled to be launching Renard Press this week - especially against the landscape of the past few months - and it feels like a dream to be working on books I’m really passionate about, and to be discovering both new and neglected literary gems. I’m particularly looking forward to working with a range of creative people from a variety of backgrounds, since a resolute commitment to making beautiful physical objects in a context of celebrating individuality is at the heart of what Renard stands for."

The press has a subscription service, which will enable readers receive a copy of every book published in advance of the publication date, in addition to offering hand-bound editions every month. It will be open to unsolicited submissions, in addition to suggestions from agents.