In a statement available on the Serpent’s Tail website today, the company announced that they will join forces with Profile Books, bringing together two of the most distinctive, highly regarded and fiercely independent small publishers in London.

Andrew Franklin, managing director of Profile Books, said Serpent’s Tail has “one of the great international lists of the world and taking it on is both thrilling and daunting. We are very excited to be publishing fiction – and of such exceptional quality but we are only doing this because Pete [Ayrton] is staying on and will continue editing and publishing his authors exactly as before.” Ayrton added that the merger “guarantees that Serpent’s Tail remains within the independent sector. It also means I can devote myself to publishing and editing – a dream come true. 20 years is long enough to be on your own.”