HarperCollins Signs Deal With The C.S. Lewis Company

Posted on March 21, 2001

HarperCollins Publishers announced that it has finalized a long-term, multi-million dollar agreement with The C.S. Lewis Company Limited making HarperCollins the primary English-language publisher of C.S. Lewis around the world, including both children's and adult titles. HarperCollins will continue to exercise the exclusive right to publish The Chronicles of Narnia in English globally and with this agreement will add the right to develop new books based on existing titles. In addition, eight adult titles published by HarperCollins UK will now be published by HarperCollins worldwide.

``C.S. Lewis is one of the most beloved and respected literary figures of our time,'' said Jane Friedman, President and CEO of HarperCollins Publishers. ``The new agreement allows HarperCollins to capitalize on our strengths as a global publisher to bring C.S. Lewis to audiences of all ages around the world through a vibrant, coordinated publishing program. We move forward with a focused worldwide branding effort, the goal of which is to encourage readers to appreciate the remarkable freshness of C.S. Lewis' works in the new century, while also celebrating the classic best-selling status of the Narnia books.''

HarperCollins will continue to publish The Chronicles of Narnia, which has sold more than 65 million copies. This series includes The Magician's Nephew; The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe; The Horse and His Boy; Prince Caspian; The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; The Silver Chair and The Last Battle.

The following eight adult titles will now be published by HarperCollins in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia and New Zealand: Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, The Problem Of Pain, Miracles, George MacDonald, The Weight of Glory, and The Abolition of Man. A Grief Observed will continue to be published by HarperCollins in the U.S. The adult books will be co-published in the U.S. by HarperSanFrancisco and Zondervan, also a division of HarperCollins Publishers.

``We are so pleased to come to this agreement with HarperCollins,'' said Simon Adley, The C.S. Lewis Company Limited. ``HarperCollins has proven its commitment to the C.S. Lewis legacy and we are confident that with their expertise and marketing acumen they will maximize the reach of these important books - bringing the magic of Narnia and the wisdom of Lewis's adult titles to an eager global audience.''