Penguin U.K. to Publish 200 E-books This Fall

U.K.-based Penguin Books has announced the formation of a new all-electronic imprint, ePenguin, and released a fall list of some 200 e-books, including original fiction and Rough Guide travel books, as well as Penguin Classics in fiction and nonfiction.

The e-books will be available in Microsoft Reader and Adobe Acrobat eBook Reader formats at www.penguin.co.uk, beginning in September, and later through selected retail outlets. "The majority of ePenguin titles will sell for 20% less than their print counterparts," according to Jeremy Ettinghausen, Penguin's e-book editor, with ePenguin Classics "even more attractively priced."

Lightning Source's new U.K. facility will provide complete digital fulfillment services for the titles, which will initially be readable on desktop and laptop computers, with delivery to handhelds promised "very soon."

The September releases include such classic fiction as Jane Austen's Emma and Persuasion, along with One-Hit Wonder by Lisa Jewell, which will be available before the print edition; nonfiction titles range from Charles Darwin's Origin of Speciesto Business @ the Speed of Thoughtby Bill Gates.