Conway Publishing
Encyclopedia
Conway Publishing, formerly known as Conway Maritime Press, is a division of Anova Books
, a London-based independent publishing group.
series, published in conjunction with the Naval Institute Press in the United States, have become stalwarts of the Conway catalogue. Over its near 40-year history, it has built an extensive catalogue of books specialising in maritime heritage, ship design and construction, and naval military history, from authoritative figures such as Brian Lavery, 'one of the best naval historians in Britain, if not the world,' according to BBC History Magazine. Nautical Magazine wrote, of Richard Endsor's Restoration Warship, 'From the dust cover into the book and right the way through it, this is a magnificent publication with a tremendous amount of detail.'
and Airfix
), amongst other related topics. In line with the current heritage culture espoused by television shows such as BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? and coordinating with several recent international anniversaries, Conway has recently released a series of popular nostalgic reproduction wartime pocket-books ranging from officers' manuals, the Spitfire, to the Home Guard.
In recent years, Conway has found success with several television series tie-ins. Conway produced the books to accompany James May's Toy Stories
and the Dan Snow
presented 'Empire of the Seas', both aired on the BBC. The latter book, written by Brian Lavery, would become a No. 2 Sunday Times Bestseller. In April 2010, Conway attained the book rights to Bruce Parry's Arctic adventure, to be broadcast on BBC2 later in the year.
Anova Books
Anova Books is a UK-based publishing company founded in 2005, with the acquisition of the Chrysalis Books Group from the Chrysalis Group. Since its inception, the firm has acquired or created several other imprints...
, a London-based independent publishing group.
History
Conway Maritime Press was founded independently in 1972. Its origins lay in catering for a specialised readership, publishing quarterly journals such as Model Shipwright and Warship, which would subsequently evolve into the popular annuals still existent today. These, along with the long-running Anatomy of the ShipAnatomy of the Ship series
The Anatomy of the Ship series of books are comprehensive treatments of the design and construction of individual ships. They have been published by Conway Maritime Press since the 1980s, and republished in the US by the Naval Institute Press.- About the series :Each volume begins with a general...
series, published in conjunction with the Naval Institute Press in the United States, have become stalwarts of the Conway catalogue. Over its near 40-year history, it has built an extensive catalogue of books specialising in maritime heritage, ship design and construction, and naval military history, from authoritative figures such as Brian Lavery, 'one of the best naval historians in Britain, if not the world,' according to BBC History Magazine. Nautical Magazine wrote, of Richard Endsor's Restoration Warship, 'From the dust cover into the book and right the way through it, this is a magnificent publication with a tremendous amount of detail.'
Conway Publishing
In 2005, Conway Maritime Press was acquired by the Anova Books Group. It was around this time that the press became Conway Publishing. Whilst still committed to producing specialist maritime books, Conway have broadened their catalogue to incorporate general, military and aviation history, exploration, as well as railway and scale modeling (with HornbyHornby
- Australia :* Hornby Lighthouse, third oldest lighthouse in Australia on south head of Sydney Harbour,- Canada :* Hornby, Ontario, community in Halton Hills* Hornby Island, Canadian island in the Strait of Georgia near Vancouver Island- England :...
and Airfix
Airfix
Airfix is a UK manufacturer of plastic scale model kits of aircraft and other subjects. In Britain, the name Airfix is synonymous with the hobby, a plastic model of this type is often simply referred to as "an airfix kit" even if made by another manufacturer....
), amongst other related topics. In line with the current heritage culture espoused by television shows such as BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? and coordinating with several recent international anniversaries, Conway has recently released a series of popular nostalgic reproduction wartime pocket-books ranging from officers' manuals, the Spitfire, to the Home Guard.
In recent years, Conway has found success with several television series tie-ins. Conway produced the books to accompany James May's Toy Stories
James May's Toy Stories
James May's Toy Stories is a television series presented by James May. The series was commissioned for BBC Two from Plum Pictures. The first episode, "Airfix", was shown on BBC Two at 8:00 pm on Tuesday 27 October 2009....
and the Dan Snow
Dan Snow
Daniel Robert Snow is an English television presenter. He has presented and appeared in many popular history-related programmes for the BBC and is the "History Hunter" for The One Show.-Early life and background:...
presented 'Empire of the Seas', both aired on the BBC. The latter book, written by Brian Lavery, would become a No. 2 Sunday Times Bestseller. In April 2010, Conway attained the book rights to Bruce Parry's Arctic adventure, to be broadcast on BBC2 later in the year.
Anova
The Anova offices are situated in West London, in a listed former Magistrates Court, complete with a wooden-panelled courtroom (once frequented by Rolling Stone Brian Jones), and individual prison cells now used as storage space.Annuals and Series
- Shipwright (formerly Model Shipwright)
- WarshipWarship (annual)Warship is a long-running yearly publication covering the design, development, and service history of combat ships. It is published by Conway Publishing in the United Kingdom and the United States Naval Institute Press in North America.- History :...
- Anatomy of the ShipAnatomy of the Ship seriesThe Anatomy of the Ship series of books are comprehensive treatments of the design and construction of individual ships. They have been published by Conway Maritime Press since the 1980s, and republished in the US by the Naval Institute Press.- About the series :Each volume begins with a general...
Television Accompaniments
- James May's Toy StoriesJames May's Toy StoriesJames May's Toy Stories is a television series presented by James May. The series was commissioned for BBC Two from Plum Pictures. The first episode, "Airfix", was shown on BBC Two at 8:00 pm on Tuesday 27 October 2009....
, James May (2009) ISBN 978-1-84486-107-1 - Empire of the Seas, Brian Lavery (2009) ISBN 978-1-84486-109-5
- Arctic, Bruce Parry (2011) ISBN 978-1-84486-130-9
Featured Works
- Face to Face: Polar Portraits, Huw Lewis-Jones (2009) ISBN 978-1-84486-099-9
- The Restoration Warship, Richard Endsor (2009) ISBN 978-1-84486-088-3
- Hitler's Army, David Stone (2009) ISBN 978-1-84486-084-5
- The Voyage of the Beagle, James Taylor (2008) ISBN 978-1-84486-066-1
- The Marine Art of Geoff Hunt, Geoff Hunt (2004) ISBN 978-1-84486-000-5
- Nelson's Navy, Brian Lavery (1989) ISBN 978-0-85177-521-0
Pocket-Books
- The Spitfire Pocket Manual, compiled and introduced by Martin Robson (2010) ISBN 978-1-84486-120-0
- The Secret Agent's Pocket Manual: 1939-1945, Stephen Bull (2009) ISBN 978-1-84486-103-3
- Not Enough Room To Swing a Cat: Naval Slang and its Everyday Usage, Martin Robson (2008) ISBN 978-1-84486-073-9
- The Royal Navy Officer's Pocket-Book, 1944, edited by Brian Lavery (2007) ISBN 978-1-84486-054-8
Conway Authors
A list of Conway authors (in alphabetical order):- John Blake
- John Bowen
- Philip Dawson
- Richard EndsorRichard EndsorRichard Endsor is a British naval historian and maritime artist. He is a member of the Society for Nautical Research and the Samuel Pepys Club.- Professional career :...
- Peter GoodwinPeter Goodwin (maritime author)Peter Goodwin is a British maritime historian and author, and the former Keeper and Curator of .-Biography:Peter Goodwin served in the Royal Navy in nuclear submarines, qualifying as a marine engineer. Subsequently, he worked in Glasgow as a consultant design engineer, before completing an MPhil at...
- Jean HoodJean Hood- Biography :Jean Hood read English Literature at the University of Durham and began her professional career working in the cardboard industry as an advertising copywriter. Advertising soon led Hood to Lloyd’s Register of Shipping where she became Information Officer during the 1980s...
- Geoff HuntGeoff Hunt (marine artist)Geoff Hunt PPRSMA is a renowned British maritime artist and former President of the Royal Society of Marine Artists.- Biography :Geoff Hunt is a leading figure in marine art...
- Andrew LambertAndrew LambertAndrew Lambert BA , MA, PhD, FRHistS is a British naval historian, who is currently Laughton Professor of Naval History in the Department of War Studies at King's College London.-Early life and education:...
- Brian LaveryBrian LaveryBrian Lavery MA, is a British naval historian, author, and Curator Emeritus at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.- Biography :He was born and raised in Scotland...
- James LeesJames LeesJames Lees was a maritime expert, and curator of the ship collection and Senior Conservation Officer at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.- Biography :...
- Huw Lewis-JonesHuw Lewis-JonesHuw Lewis-Jones is a British historian, editor, broadcaster and art director. Formerly historian and Curator of Art at the Scott Polar Research Institute, University of Cambridge, Dr Lewis-Jones left Cambridge in June 2010 to pursue a number of book and broadcasting projects...
- James MayJames MayJames Daniel May is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. He is best known for his role as co-presenter of the award-winning motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond....
- Bruce ParryBruce ParryBruce Parry is a Former Royal Marines Officer and Instructor who is now a TV presenter and adventurer, known particularly for the documentary programme series Tribe , co-produced by the BBC and the Discovery Channel...
- Antony Preston
- Martin Robson
- David StoneDavid Stone (British military historian and author)David John Anthony Stone is an established military author and historian and a former British army officer. Most of his books on various aspects of military conflict have been written and published since he retired from active military duty in 2002, including several studies on the Prussian and...
- James TaylorJames Taylor (British author and historian)James Taylor MA , FRSA is a British author, expert on maritime art, and former curator of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, east London.- Biography :...