James Lorimer and Company

James Lorimer and Company was established in Toronto in 1970 by James Lorimer. From its beginning, the company developed as an independent Canadian book publisher rather than as a division of a large multinational media group. Its editorial identity became closely associated with nonfiction about Canada, including Canadian history, political affairs, public institutions, and social questions. Over the course of its publishing history, the company built a substantial catalog. The supplied reference material states that it has published more than 1,500 books by over 1,000 authors. This output reflects a long-running relationship with Canadian writers and scholars and gives the house a role in preserving and interpreting national political and historical experience through books. The available sources do not provide a complete chronology of imprints, editorial departments, distribution agreements, or changes in leadership, so the company's development is best documented through its founding, publishing scale, and representative titles. A significant part of the company's wider corporate context emerged in 1982, when James Lorimer purchased Formac Publishing Company of Halifax. Formac had been established in 1977 by Carroll MacIntyre and maintained a distinct regional publishing identity, concentrating on regional nonfiction and children's fiction. After the acquisition, Formac and James Lorimer & Company remained related publishing houses within the broader Formac Lorimer Books structure. Formac's Halifax base and its own catalog should be distinguished from the Toronto-based James Lorimer list, even though both are connected by ownership. James Lorimer and Company's books have addressed subjects with direct relevance to Canadian public life. Donald Gutstein's Harperism examined the political transformation associated with Stephen Harper and his think-tank allies. Zuhair Kashmeri and Brian McAndrew's Soft Target dealt with allegations and claims concerning the penetration of Canada by Indian intelligence. These examples illustrate the publisher's willingness to issue analytical and investigative nonfiction on politics, national security, and institutional power. The company remains presented in the supplied material as a Canadian book publisher based in Toronto. There is insufficient source material to establish current annual publishing volume, revenue, staff, leadership, or detailed international distribution. Its documented historical profile, however, is that of a durable independent house whose principal contribution has been the publication of Canadian-centered nonfiction and historical analysis, alongside its connection to the broader Formac Lorimer publishing group.

• 2014

  Publication of Harperism

  [1]Formac Lorimer Booksen.wikipedia.org

  The company published Donald Gutstein's Harperism: How Stephen Harper and His Think Tank Colleagues Have Transformed Canada.

• 1989

  Publication of Soft Target

  [1]Formac Lorimer Booksen.wikipedia.org

  James Lorimer and Company published Soft Target: How the Indian Intelligence Service Penetrated Canada by Zuhair Kashmeri and Brian McAndrew.

• 1982

  Acquisition of Formac Publishing Company

  [1]Formac Lorimer Booksen.wikipedia.org

  James Lorimer purchased Formac Publishing Company, creating the ownership connection between the Toronto-based James Lorimer house and the Halifax-based publisher.

• 1970

  Company founded in Toronto

  [1]Formac Lorimer Booksen.wikipedia.org

  James Lorimer founded James Lorimer and Company in Toronto, Ontario, establishing an independent Canadian publishing house.

An independent Canadian publisher focused chiefly on nonfiction concerning Canada, Canadian history, politics, public affairs, and related social or institutional questions.

• Nonfiction · 1970

  Canadian nonfiction

  The company's central publishing area is nonfiction dealing with Canada. Its list is associated with books that interpret Canadian society, institutions, political developments, and public debates, generally through authored research, commentary, or documentary analysis.

• History · 1970

  Canadian history

  Books on Canadian history form a major part of the publisher's documented identity. These publications contribute to the study and popular understanding of Canada's political, institutional, and social development.

• Politics and current affairs

  Political and public-affairs books

  The house publishes analytical works on Canadian politics and public affairs. Harperism is a representative title, examining the political transformation associated with Stephen Harper and colleagues connected with think tanks.

• Investigative nonfiction · 1989

  Investigative and national-security nonfiction

  The publisher has also issued books addressing intelligence, security, and sensitive international-affairs questions. Soft Target, published in 1989, is a documented example of this strand of the list.

1. 1Formac Lorimer Booksen.wikipedia.org
2. 2James Lorimer and Company official websitelorimer.ca