Editing Verso Books (section)

==Operations==
In 1970, Verso Books began as a paperback [[Imprint (trade name)|imprint]] of New Left Books and became its sole imprint. It established itself as a publisher of [[nonfiction]] works on [[International relations|international politics]]. Verso Books has also periodically published [[fiction]] over its history.<ref name="bookseller-fiction">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/verso-books-launches-politically-astute-fiction-imprint-954016|title=Verso Books launches 'bold' fiction imprint {{!}} The Bookseller|website=thebookseller.com|access-date=2020-04-15}}</ref>

On April 8, 2014 Verso began bundling [[DRM-free]] e-books with print purchases made through its website. Verso's managing director and US publisher, Jacob Stevens, stated that he expected the new offer on the Verso website to contribute £200,000 to the publisher's revenue in its first year helping to "shake up how publishers relate to their readership, and help to support independent publishing".<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/e-bookprint-bundling-venture-verso|title=E-book/print bundling venture from Verso |publisher=thebookseller.com}}</ref>

In 2019, Verso Books launched a dedicated fiction imprint, Verso Fiction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Announcing Verso Fiction |url=https://www.versobooks.com/series_collections/127-verso-fiction}}</ref> The fiction editor, Cian McCourt, said, "We want to publish bold, intelligent writing that's politically astute, but not dogmatic or charmless."<ref name="bookseller-fiction" /> In an article titled, "The best (and worst) fiction books of 2023," ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' said of the imprint, "But the gem has been Verso, our closest thing to a mainstream radical publisher. It’s building one of Britain’s most interesting fiction lists."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what-to-read/best-worst-fiction-books-2023/ | title=The best (and worst) fiction books of 2023, from Eleanor Catton to Zadie Smith | last = Revely-Calder | first = Cal}}</ref>

Verso Books titles are distributed in the United States by [[Penguin Random House]]. 

The publishing house is known to host many events in the United States and the UK, focusing on radical politics and history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Verso |url=https://www.versobooks.com/events |access-date=2020-04-15 |website=versobooks.com}}</ref>

===Sexual harassment grievance===

In 2021, Verso was publicly accused of poorly handling an internal [[sexual harassment]] grievance brought by a former publicist employed in the company's US office against its long-time publisher, Jacob Stevens. She described the incident in a [[Medium (website)|Medium]] piece thus: "He then said, of my hiring, 'We needed someone nice to look at in the office besides Wes.'” She claims that this remark caused severe depression and [[self-harm]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Janakiram |first=Emily |date=2021-01-30 |title=I was the first person to file a sexual harassment grievance at Verso Books. This is what happened |url=https://ejanakir1128.medium.com/i-was-the-first-person-to-file-a-sexual-harassment-grievance-at-verso-books-this-is-what-happened-c8a878fb5fef |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Medium |language=en}}</ref> The board of directors responded with a [[public apology]] and updates on their sexual harassment policy. However, they likewise maintain that their procedures were properly followed, as determined by an independent review.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Statement from the Verso Board |url=https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/4992-statement-from-the-verso-board |access-date=2023-02-09 |website=Versobooks.com}}</ref>

===Marston Book Services bankruptcy===

In September 2024, Verso launched a [[crowdfunding]] campaign via the website [[Kickstarter]], in response to the bankruptcy of its UK distributor, Marston Book Services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Coming Autumn/Winter 2024 |url=https://www.versobooks.com/collections/support-versos-autumn-winter-publishing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925082128/https://www.versobooks.com/collections/support-versos-autumn-winter-publishing |archive-date=2024-09-25 |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=Verso Books}}</ref> UK-based United Independent Distributors, of which Marston was a subsidiary, had entered [[Administration (law)|administration]] on 25 July 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clee |first=Nicholas |last2=Milliot |first2=Jim |date=2024-07-29 |title=UID, Marston, Orca, and Eurospan File for Bankruptcy |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/95594-uid-marston-orca-and-eurospan-file-for-bankruptcy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925072325/https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/international-book-news/article/95594-uid-marston-orca-and-eurospan-file-for-bankruptcy.html |archive-date=2024-09-25 |access-date=2024-09-25 |work=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref>

Verso expected that the revenue crowdfunding campaign would allow it to publish its planned Autumn 2024 catalogue and pay for expenses as it transitioned to a new distribution arrangement with Macmillan Distribution.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Lauren |date=2024-09-11 |title=Verso moves from Marston Book Services to Macmillan Distribution |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/news/verso-moves-from-marston-book-services-to-macmillan-distribution |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925073638/https://www.thebookseller.com/news/verso-moves-from-marston-book-services-to-macmillan-distribution |archive-date=2024-09-25 |access-date=2024-09-25 |website=The Bookseller}}</ref>