Allen Lane

Sir Allen Lane CH (21 September 1902 – 7 July 1970) was a British publisher. He and his two brothers founded Penguin Books in 1935, as part of the publishin company the Bodley Head.

Legend has it that after visiting Agatha Christie, Lane found himself at a railway station with nothing to read. He came up with the idea of quality literature in inexpensive paperback editions being sold in vending machines in train stations.

Agatha Christie related appearances

 * 1955 - Close Up: Agatha Christie