John Lane & Elkin Matthews
The Bodley Head, 1887 - 1921

The Bodley Head is noted for launching or aiding the careers of writers who are now known to us as the period's most significant. Matthews and Lane began their association as booksellers in 1887, but upon developing a friendship with Richard Le Gallienne, who had publishing experience, they leapt enthusiastically into publishing.

Their first book was Le Gallienne's Volumes in Folio (1889). In the early '90s they were publishing the likes of Arthur Symons, Michael Field, and Oscar Wilde, choosing young poets, artists, and "New Woman" writers. Periodicals included the Hobby Horse and the Yellow Book.

They entered into joint ventures with avant-gard American publishing houses, and Lane established his own New York office in 1896. The partnership was short-lived however, and dissolved in 1894.

Matthews remained on the premises and carrying on as a bookseller, while Lane took the Bodley Head name and continued on with publishing. After Lane's death in 1925 it continued until 1987 as a private limited-liability company (5).