Penguin Random House Australia: “The Penguin Modern Australian Classics will be treasured by readers for years to come”
In the lead-up to the 2026 Australian Book Industry Awards, Books+Publishing is inviting the event’s major sponsors to share little-known facts about their organisations, their top tips for booksellers and publishers, and their thoughts on the state of our industry. This week, Susie Smith, communications lead at Penguin Random House Australia, writes on the forthcoming release of the publishing house’s new classics series.
This segment is supported by the event sponsors.
Penguin Random House Australia is celebrating Australian storytelling with the launch of its new Penguin Modern Australian Classics series. Publishing as premium clothbound hardbacks with gold foil detailing, the collection brings together some of Australia’s most beloved adult and children’s books in a luxurious new format.
The initial release in July features Tara June Winch’s The Yield, Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet, Melina Marchetta’s Looking for Alibrandi, Anna Funder’s Stasiland, Timothy Conigrave’s Holding the Man and Robin Klein’s Hating Alison Ashley.
A second release, in September, includes Peter Carey’s True History of the Kelly Gang, Morris Gleitzman’s Once, M L Stedman’s The Light Between Oceans, Steve Toltz’s A Fraction of the Whole, Ruth Park’s Playing Beatie Bow and Richard Flanagan’s The Narrow Road to the Deep North.
Celebrating Australian storytelling
These classics have helped shape our literary landscape, earned critical acclaim and contributed to the reputation of Australian writing, both at home and internationally. They’re books that readers all around the country have deep connections with, and that’s why they have resonated across generations. From iconic childhood classics to multi-award-winning epics, the Penguin Modern Australian Classics series is an opportunity to dive back into a beloved favourite – or discover a new one.
“With a backlist as rich as ours, it’s a true privilege to be able to honour the legacy of these authors and their work,” said PRH senior editor Johannes Jakob. “It’s a pleasure to celebrate that and to find a new way to share these unforgettable stories with readers.”
Classics for the collectors
The Penguin Modern Australian Classics will be treasured by readers for years to come. Beautifully designed and illustrated by Jessica Cruickshank, the covers balance a fresh, modern look with an aesthetic as timeless as the stories themselves.
Readers love both classics and high-end production, so this series meets that demand with its visual and tactile appeal – perfect to display on all bookshelves.
“We are seeing a growing appetite for high-quality, beautifully produced books, particularly classics, and this series speaks directly to that,” said PRH sales director Gavin Schwarcz. “The Penguin Modern Australian Classics are truly booksellers’ books – perfect for hand-selling and for gifting all year round.”
A legacy of publishing excellence
Penguin Classics have an enduring reputation for literary merit and historical significance. By uniting some of our most important Australian works into a new defining series, Penguin Random House Australia is reinforcing its commitment to local voices and to ensuring that Australian stories continue to reach new audiences.
Built on an unrivalled publishing legacy, Penguin Random House Australia has been able to bring together this epic collection, thanks to the strength and depth of its publishing program, which continues to shape the national literary landscape.
The Penguin Modern Australian Classics series offers a reminder of what makes great books last: their ability to connect with readers, to be cherished and shared with new generations, and to be discovered and rediscovered again and again.
The Australian Book Industry Awards are presented for achievements in bringing Australian books to readers.
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