Burns & Oates
Encyclopedia
Burns & Oates is a British Roman Catholic publishing house which now exists as an imprint of Continuum
. It was founded by James Burns
in 1835, originally as a bookseller. Burns was of Presbyterian background and he gained a reputation as a High Church
publisher, producing works by the Tractarians.
In 1847 his business was put in jeopardy when he converted to Catholicism
, but the firm was fortunate to receive the support of John Henry Newman, who chose the firm to publish many of his works. There is a story that Newman's novel Loss and Gain
was written specifically to assist Burns.
After a while trading as Burns, James Burns took a partner, renaming the company Burns & Lambert. In 1866 they were joined by a younger man, William Wilfred Oates, making the company Burns, Lambert & Oates and later Burns & Oates. Oates was another Catholic convert, and had previously co-founded the publishing house of Austin & Oates based in Bristol. Burns & Oates passed to his son Wilfred Oates, whose sister Mother Mary Salome became one of the firm’s most successful authors. The company was designated ‘Publishers to the Holy See’ by Pope Leo XIII
.
In the USA the company's agent was The Catholic Publications Society of New York.
Continuum International Publishing Group
The Continuum International Publishing Group is a publisher of books, with its editorial offices in London and New York City. It had been owned by Nova Capital Management since 2005...
. It was founded by James Burns
James Burns (publisher)
James Burns was a Scottish publisher and author.During the last half of the nineteenth century his work in the cause of Catholic literature and Catholic church music contributed much to the rapid advancement of the Church in Great Britain and to the many conversions that were made throughout that...
in 1835, originally as a bookseller. Burns was of Presbyterian background and he gained a reputation as a High Church
High church
The term "High Church" refers to beliefs and practices of ecclesiology, liturgy and theology, generally with an emphasis on formality, and resistance to "modernization." Although used in connection with various Christian traditions, the term has traditionally been principally associated with the...
publisher, producing works by the Tractarians.
In 1847 his business was put in jeopardy when he converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
, but the firm was fortunate to receive the support of John Henry Newman, who chose the firm to publish many of his works. There is a story that Newman's novel Loss and Gain
Loss and Gain
Loss and Gain is a philosophical novel by John Henry Newman published in 1848. It depicts the culture of Oxford University in the mid-Victorian era and the conversion of a young student to Roman Catholicism. The novel went through nine editions during Newman's lifetime...
was written specifically to assist Burns.
After a while trading as Burns, James Burns took a partner, renaming the company Burns & Lambert. In 1866 they were joined by a younger man, William Wilfred Oates, making the company Burns, Lambert & Oates and later Burns & Oates. Oates was another Catholic convert, and had previously co-founded the publishing house of Austin & Oates based in Bristol. Burns & Oates passed to his son Wilfred Oates, whose sister Mother Mary Salome became one of the firm’s most successful authors. The company was designated ‘Publishers to the Holy See’ by Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
.
In the USA the company's agent was The Catholic Publications Society of New York.