Celebrating 90 Years of Penguin Books: A Literary Legacy Lives On at St David’s Station

There’s something wonderfully fitting about celebrating one of publishing’s greatest success stories right where it all began. As I stood on Platform 2 at Exeter St David’s station last week, watching the steady stream of passengers stopping at the now-famous Penguin Books Vending Machine, I couldn’t help but smile at the beautiful circularity of it all.

A Moment of Frustration That Changed Everything

Picture this: it’s 1935, and a young publisher named Allen Lane finds himself stranded at our very own St David’s station. Scanning the platform bookstall, he’s met with nothing but cheap, poorly-written paperbacks – hardly the kind of quality reading material you’d want for a long journey. That moment of literary frustration would spark an idea that revolutionised publishing forever.

Lane’s vision was deceptively simple: why shouldn’t everyone have access to great literature, regardless of their budget? Within months, Penguin Books was born, making quality fiction available to the masses for the price of a packet of cigarettes.

Full Circle at St David’s

Fast-forward 90 years, and Exeter has found the perfect way to honour this remarkable legacy. The Penguin Books Vending Machine, installed in 2023 as part of Exeter’s UNESCO City of Literature celebrations, sits proudly on the very platform where Lane had his eureka moment.

The response has been nothing short of phenomenal. Social media has been buzzing with millions of views, national newspapers have covered the story, and celebrated authors like Elif Shafak and Richard Osman have praised this unique piece of literary placemaking. It’s not just a vending machine – it’s a symbol of Exeter’s commitment to making literature accessible to all.

A Voice for Change

The recent 90th anniversary celebration brought together book lovers from across the region, but it was Michael Morpurgo’s passionate speech that truly captured the spirit of what Penguin represents. The beloved children’s author, whose personal connection to Penguin runs deep through his marriage to Clare Lane (Sir Allen’s daughter), delivered a powerful reminder about why books matter.

“Everything starts with a story,” Morpurgo declared, but his message went far beyond simple storytelling. He highlighted a sobering reality: there are still schools in Britain without libraries, creating what he called “a book reading class” – a cultural divide that Penguin was originally founded to bridge.

“Great literature is the right of all of us,” he emphasised, echoing Lane’s democratic vision from nearly a century ago. It’s a message that resonates particularly strongly here in Exeter, one of only 53 UNESCO Cities of Literature worldwide.

More Than Nostalgia

What makes Exeter’s Penguin vending machine special isn’t just its historical significance – it’s how it continues to evolve. Throughout 2025, the machine showcases carefully curated selections that celebrate both Penguin’s publishing legacy and Exeter’s thriving literary community.

This isn’t just about established classics. The machine actively promotes emerging local talent, giving Devon’s writers a platform alongside literary giants. It’s exactly the kind of democratic approach to literature that would have made Allen Lane proud.

Community at the Heart

Perhaps most importantly, the people of Devon have a say in what goes into the machine. Community voting on book selections ensures this literary resource truly serves its users, embodying the grassroots spirit that made Penguin revolutionary in the first place.

Every purchase supports Exeter City of Literature, a local charity working tirelessly to make reading more accessible throughout our region. It’s funding that directly addresses the inequalities Morpurgo highlighted – proving that great literature really can be “the right of all of us.”

A Story That Continues

Walking through St David’s station today, watching travellers discover new books from that distinctive orange machine, you can sense Allen Lane’s spirit living on. His moment of platform frustration has evolved into something far greater – a celebration of literature that’s accessible, community-driven, and uniquely Exeter.

The Penguin Books Vending Machine isn’t just solving the problem Lane identified 90 years ago. It’s proof that the best ideas have a way of coming full circle, and that our city continues to champion the democratic ideals that made Penguin a household name.

As Michael Morpurgo reminded us, everything does indeed start with a story. And sometimes, the most beautiful stories are the ones that refuse to end.

Stephanie Darkes is a freelance writer and book enthusiast based in Exeter. She regularly covers arts and culture events across Devon for various publications.