Routledge is aBritishpublisher. It has changed names and owners many times since it was first formed byGeorge Routledge (1812–1888) in1836. The firm continued to grow until1902 when it almost becamebankrupt. However, it managed to recover afterrefinancing and began to buy up andmerge with other publishing companies. From1912 onwards, it increasingly focuses on academic publishing. It soon became well known for its books inhumanities andsocial sciences. Taylor & Francis bought Routledge in1998.