Founded in 1983 by Lisette Buchholz, persona verlag originally focused on publishing German and Austrian exile literature from the period 1933–1945. Over the years, the selection of titles the publisher offers has gradually expanded to include works of literature and contemporary history from thirteen countries, spanning a geographic range from the Arctic Circle to the Sinai Peninsula. In 2001 and 2012, persona verlag was awarded the Baden-Württemberg State Prize for Ambitious Smaller Publishers.