Bonnier Books UK launches literary imprint Manilla Press
Bonnier Books UK today (6th February 2020) launches literary imprint, Manilla Press, with the publication of Stacey Halls’ highly-anticipated second novel, The Foundling.
The name of the imprint is inspired by Nedre Manilla, the home of the Bonnier family in Stockholm. As part of the launch the company has unveiled a new logo designed by art director Nick Stearn and a bespoke pattern commissioned by Bonnier Books UK and designed by Swedish visual artist and illustrator Klara Bartilsson.
‘Inspired by the rich literary heritage of the Bonnier group, Manilla Press will publish polemical writing, memoirs, popular science, social history and novels from voices around the world that tell “stories of our times”.
Margaret Stead, Publisher
Manilla Press will be led by Margaret Stead. Stead joined Bonnier Books UK in August 2018 and also oversees the Zaffre imprint. In a 20-year career, she has also worked at Harvill Press, Atlantic Books and Penguin Press.
Margaret Stead, Publisher for Manilla Press and Zaffre, Bonnier Books UK, said: ‘Inspired by the rich literary heritage of the Bonnier group, Manilla Press will publish just eight books a year, spanning polemical writing, memoirs, popular science, social history and novels from voices around the world that tell “stories of our times”. Ultimately, we want to publish books that create conversations on wider issues.’
Nick Stearn, Art Director, Bonnier Books UK said: ‘The logo is based on a 19th century Gustavian Mora clock at Nedre Manilla. It stood out to us when we visited the house and we thought it would be a perfect motif for Manilla, conjuring up both a sense of the company’s heritage and the concept of time.’
‘It was a pure delight to explore the beautiful Nedre Manilla mansion … my artwork is a homage to both literature and art.’
Klara Bartillson, visual artist and illustrator
Klara Bartillson, visual artist and illustrator, said: ‘It was a pure delight to explore the beautiful Nedre Manilla mansion. I wanted to put my eye on every detail and at the same time imbibe the soul of the place. Because of the house’s rich history, the pattern had to be seamless not only in design, but also in the presentation of a timeline. Taking inspiration from Swedish pattern traditions, I attempted to interlace all the various expressions into a whole. In that way my artwork is a homage to both literature and art.’
From the biggest selling debut novelist of 2019 and set against the vibrant backdrop of Georgian London, The Foundling explores families, secrets, class, equality, power and the meaning of motherhood. Stacey Halls will be completing an extensive media and events tour around publication, see her website for more information.
The next book to publish on the list will be be the timely and important The Future We Choose: How to Survive the Climate Crisis by Christina Figueres. Described as “the defining book on the climate crisis,” the book will publish globally on 25th February. Christiana Figueres was the UN Executive Secretary for Climate Change between 2010 and 2016. She was the public face of the most pivotal climate agreement in history, the Paris Climate Agreement, in 2015. Tom Rivett-Carnac was senior political strategist for the Paris Agreement. Together they are the co-founders of Global Optimism, an organisation focused on creating environmental and social change, and co-hosts of the podcast Outrage and Optimism.
