The last year has witnessed a multitude of upheavals in the medieval publishing business. News tells us the consolidation of the large players has not come to an end yet

As is well-known, Ashgate was sold last year to Routledge, which also acquired its backlist. This has led to a virtual flooding with republications of the former publications from Ashgate as if they were new publications offered by Routledge – beware! At the same time Brepols is offering 350 backlist titles at special discount prices as well as launching its first ever open-access Journal.

Further, Boydell & Brewer has passed ownership to an Employee-Ownership Trust as well as entered into a full collaboration with Wiley, thus providing – what they hope will be – a stable base for future growth while at the same time keeping it as a fully independent company. Boydell & Brewer Ltd was formed in 1978. It merged two companies, Boydell Press and D.S. Brewer, whose founders, Richard Barber and Derek Brewer, were themselves scholars – Brewer a Chaucer specialist and subsequently Professor of English and Master of Emmanuel College, Barber a medieval historian and Arthurian. Richard Barber is still a highly active scholar and continues to publish eminently in his own right and offers a vast amount of knowledge and experience to Boydell & Brewer. Medieval studies originally formed the core of the list.

Finally Brill is reporting a continued growth of digital and subscription based products in their annual report to share- and stakeholders. Especially eBooks and reference works are reported to do well.