Serpent's Tail is a London-based independent publishing firm founded in 1986 by Pete Ayrton. It specialises in publishing work in translation, particularly European crime fiction. In January 2007, it was bought by British publisher Profile Books.
Publications The firm publishes both fiction and non-fiction books. Boyd Tonkin, writing for The Independent, has described the publisher's list: "from hard-boiled noir to gems in translation and left-field cultural reportage – often defines the meaning of 'cool'."
Noted writers Derek Raymond Elfriede Jelinek Elizabeth Young Herta Müller Christian Kracht Jonathan Trigell Kathy Acker Kenzaburō Ōe Lionel Shriver Nicholas Royle Stella Duffy Neil Bartlett
Noted debut novels Nineteen Seventy-Four by David Peace The South by Colm Tóibín Whatever by Michel Houellebecq Ready to Catch Him Should He Fall by Neil Bartlett
Book series 90sse:90s + "Serpent's Tail", worldcat.org. Retrieved 16 November 2024. Crime Diaries (Danny King) (implied series) Extraordinary TalesLet the wind speak, worldcat.org. Retrieved 16 November 2024. Factory (implied series) Five Star Paperbackse:Five star paperback, worldcat.org. Retrieved 16 November 2024. Mask Noirse:Mask Noir, worldcat.org. Retrieved 16 November 2024. Midnight Classicsse:Midnight Classics, worldcat.org. Retrieved 16 November 2024. Nick Stefanos Mysteryse:Nick Stefanos Mystery + "Serpent's Tail", worldcat.org. Retrieved 16 November 2024. Serpent's Tail Classicsse:Serpent's Tail Classics, worldcat.org. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
High Risk Books High Risk Books was an imprint of Serpent's Tail that existed between 1993 and 1997. It was founded by Ira Silverberg and Amy Scholder and aimed to publish innovative, provocative, and progressive literature (such as Kathy Acker and William S. Burroughs), poetry (including Jayne Cortez), and non-fiction (including the collected journalism of Cookie Mueller).
References
External links Finding aid to the Serpent's Tail/High Risk Archives at New York University's Fales Library and Special Collections