Marshall Cavendish

Overview

Marshall Cavendish was a British publisher that specialised in part-works - magazines sold weekly that built into comprehensive reference collections. In the 1980s, they published several computing part-works including Input, which became the definitive computing education series.

While not a computing company per se, Marshall Cavendish’s publishing model brought programming education to newsagent shelves across Britain, making it accessible to anyone willing to spend £1 a week.

Fast Facts

Founded: 1968 (London)
Specialty: Part-work magazines
Computing titles: Input, Computer Tutor, others
Distribution: Newsagents nationwide
Model: Weekly collectible issues

Computing Part-Works

Marshall Cavendish published several computing titles:

Input (1984-1986) - 52-issue computing course
Computer Tutor - Interactive learning with tapes
How to Program Your… - Platform-specific series
Various other educational computing titles

The Part-Work Model

Part-works had unique characteristics:

Affordable - £1-2 weekly vs. £20 book upfront
Progressive - Built skills over months
Collectible - Complete sets with binders
Widely available - Every newsagent
Visual - High production values

Why It Worked for Computing

The part-work model suited computing education:

Matched progressive learning
Weekly programs to type in
Reference material accumulated
Affordable access to knowledge
No library or shop visit needed

Beyond Computing

Marshall Cavendish published part-works on:

Cooking and recipes
History and culture
Music and entertainment
Crafts and hobbies
Science and nature

The computing titles were part of a broader publishing strategy.

Legacy

Marshall Cavendish demonstrated:

Educational content could be mass-market
Progressive learning suited the format
Accessibility mattered (newsagent distribution)
Collection incentives drove completion

Part-work publishers