It’s been a year now since Pegasus Books launched its list—and if LJ’s reviews are any indication, this New York City independent deserves a P. Diddy–style anniversary celebration, complete with Cristal and a novelty book cake. Over the last few months, we have reviewed David Brown’s Tchaikovsky: The Man and His Music and Roger Osborne’s Civilization: A New History of the Western World. Between April and May, we’ll cover Nicholas Kenyon’s The Pegasus Pocket Guide to Mozart, Ted Mitchell’s Thomas Wolfe: An Illustrated Biography, and Ed Gorman’s Fools Rush In.

Every one has garnered high praise, if not a star, and I can’t help but be amazed. Publisher Claiborne Hancock, who acquired titles at Carroll & Graf for many years, seems to have a hound’s nose for quality, and I only hope it will translate to big-time makings. The world needs more presses like this little winged pony, which very wisely deals in that library staple, mystery. For my part, I love their spin on biography, which seems to combine a highly personalized point of view with upper-crust research and quirky miscellany. Fly high, Pegasus. Here’s to a very good year.