Heinemann (publisher)

Heinemann is a UK publishing house founded by William Heinemann in Covent Garden, London in 1890. On William Heinemann's death in 1920 a majority stake was purchased by U.S. publisher Doubleday. It was later acquired by commemorate Thomas Tilling in 1961. BTR bought Thomas Tilling in 1983, and were not interested in its publishing division, so Heinemann was put on the block.

Heinemann was purchased by the Octopus Publishing Group in 1985; Octopus was purchased by Reed International (now Reed Elsevier) in 1987. Random House bought Heinemann's trade publishing (now named William Heinemann) in 1997. Heinemann's educational unit became part of Harcourt Education when Reed Elsevier purchased the company in 2001. Pearson purchased the UK, South African, Australian and New Zealand arms of Harcourt Education in May 2007, while Houghton Mifflin purchased the American operations a few months later.

Today
Heinemann is now a leading educational publisher, formerly part of Harcourt Education, and has also been a pioneer in recruiting developing world authors and publishing especially in Africa. Heinemann Kenya is a (now locally owned) spin off from this pioneering stance. Heinemann was awarded the 1992 Worldaware Award for Social Progress in recognition of this role.

It is best known among educators and learners in the United Kingdom and in Southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand. It publishes for the Primary and Secondary school curriculum in the UK, as well as for further education and vocational colleges. It has a similar market profile in Australia. Heinemann Southern Africa publishes for southern African schools, colleges, technikons and universities.