About Peirene
Peirene Press is a small independent publishing house in London.
It was set up by Meike Ziervogel in 2008.
Peirene’s books
Peirene specializes in contemporary European literature in English translation. We only publish books of less than 200 pages ( according to the motto: "Bored watching films? For a fascinating night in: Sink into a two-hour book!"). Peirene's books have a plot to pull the reader along BUT rhythm, structure and language are equally, if not more so, important. Our books are exciting and enhancing.
Why Peirene
Peirene Press takes its name from a Greek nymph who turned into a water spring. The poets of Corinth discovered the Peirene source and, for centuries, they drank this water to receive inspiration.The idea of metamorphosis fits the art of translation beautifully. To turn a foreign book into an enjoyable English read involves careful attention to detail.
How Peirene chooses books
We regularly review the winners and short listed books for the most prestigious literary prizes in the various European countries, such as the French Prix Médicis, the German Georg Büchner Preis, the Polish Nike, the Czech Magnesia Litera etc. Furthermore, we work with international agents and pay attention to what foreign publishers have translated. We are also influenced by suggestions from readers, friends, writers, translators, journalists, university professors. And last but not least we attend European book fairs and are not afraid of making personal choices.
Peirene’s literary salons
Because literature - both reading and writing - can be a lonely affair, Meike hosts regular literary salons in her own home with English and foreign writers. These are no boring readings but parties with performances, conversation, food and wine. The English writers Jacob Polley and Sophie Hannah are on the guest list.
About Meike Ziervogel
Meike is a German writer and journalist living in London. She grew up in Northern Germany and came to London in 1986 to study Arabic language and literature. She has worked for Reuters, Agence France Press, Financial Times TV and Routledge.Since 2005 she has also written for New Books in German, a Goethe Institute publication that reviews German, Austrian and Swiss writing for the British publishing market.