Penguin Publishing

API

Access Penguin Random House books, covers, and metadata via REST API

Overview

A RESTful API providing access to Penguin Random House's catalog of books, including metadata (titles, authors, ISBNs, synopses), high-quality book covers, and publishing details. Responses are in JSON format. Key endpoints enable retrieval of book details by ISBN/title, author profiles, and cover images. Ideal for integrating into library management systems, book discovery apps, e-commerce platforms selling Penguin titles, or educational tools needing literary content and visual assets.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('http://www.penguinrandomhouse.biz/webservices/rest/')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful architecture
JSON response format
Book metadata (titles, authors, ISBNs)
High-resolution cover images
Author information endpoints

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is Penguin Publishing API free to use?

It follows a freemium model— a free tier with basic access and rate limits is available, while paid tiers offer higher usage caps and advanced features.

? Does it require an API Key?

Yes, an API key is required for most endpoints. You can obtain one by registering on the Penguin Random House developer portal.

? What is the response format?

All responses are in JSON format, which is compatible with most programming languages and application frameworks.

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Tool Info

Pricing Freemium

Category Books

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ Extensive Penguin Random House catalog
⊕ Authoritative publishing data
⊕ Easy integration with REST design
⊕ Includes visual assets like book covers

Cons

⊖ Rate-limited access tiers
⊖ Requires API key for authentication
⊖ Limited to Penguin Random House titles
⊖ No SLA for free tier users