About Us

Godine, founded in 1970 by David R. Godine, is a small independent book publisher located in Boston, Massachusetts. Our titles range from Emily Franklin’s biographical novel, Lioness of Boston to Adam Goodheart’s profoundly moving work of narrative nonfiction, The Last Island

For readers, we deliver insight, inspiration, new perspectives, and thoroughly entertaining experiences. For authors, we are a publishing partner, as invested in authors’ successes as they are.

Godine is also home to the Black Sparrow Press, founded in 1966.

For more about the history of Godine, and our titles and publishing adventure over the decades, see our founder’s telling of the tale in Godine at Fifty.

Thanks for stopping by.

David Allender
Publisher

William N. Thorndike, Jr.
President

Godine is a remarkable publisher….determined to prove that the day of elegant books has not vanished.—The New York Times

Godine books are not ‘beautiful’ in the glossy fashion of the coffee-table books that flood the market at Christmastime. They are instead flawlessly produced examples of the arts of printing and bookbinding, exquisitely understated. —Newsweek

Small publishers like Godine are keeping literature alive by taking chances. If we had to depend on books from the publishing conglomerates, we’d read in a limited universe too often based on the bottom line. —Bill Henderson, editor of the Pushcart Prize series

Godine represents everything that is right and good about book publishing. As the trend moves away from the printed word in favor of cheaper, faster electronic editions, and many publishers seem content with flimsily constructed books, DRG continues to publish well made, often beautifully illustrated books every bookstore should be proud to carry on their shelves. Godine’s books are meant to last a lifetime. Our customers have come to expect quality in printing and editorial curatorship that DRG has consistently delivered over time. Thank God there are still a few publishers who haven’t forgotten what is most important and maintain a consistent commitment to excellence. —Mark LaFramboise, Chief Buyer, Politics & Prose Bookstore, Washington D.C.

Godine books have a well-deserved reputation for quality in every sense of the word, and it’s a pleasure to stock them in our stores, and also to see them in other stores. On top of that, they sell well! —Jack Cella, Former Manager, Seminary Co-operative Bookstore, Chicago, Illinois

Perusing the Godine catalogue is one great pleasure of being an independent bookseller. A greater pleasure is to hold one of Godine’s books. Beautiful, thoughtful design & typography combined with great writing make the David R. Godine colophon one of the most notable presences on the shelves of City Lights Booksellers. —Paul Yamazaki, Chief Buyer, City Lights Booksellers & Publishers, San Francisco, California

Long live Godine Press! —Bob Contant, former owner of St. Mark’s Bookshop, New York City