<ARTICLE>        5
<LEGEND>


                                     EXHIBIT 27
                    JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC., AND SUBSIDIARIES
                               FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
                   (Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data)

THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED  STATEMENT OF  FINANCIAL  POSITION AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                                        0000107140
<NAME>                                           JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                                                       1000

                                                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                     3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                           APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                              MAY-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                                JUL-31-1999
<CASH>                                                            4,173
<SECURITIES>                                                          0
<RECEIVABLES>                                                   126,865
<ALLOWANCES>                                                     49,185
<INVENTORY>                                                      39,606
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                134,286
<PP&E>                                                           95,087
<DEPRECIATION>                                                   60,723
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  542,072
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                           202,863
<BONDS>                                                         125,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                                           0
<COMMON>                                                         83,190
<OTHER-SE>                                                       83,657
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                    542,072
<SALES>                                                               0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                136,980
<CGS>                                                            47,542
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                   114,411
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                      0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                1,833
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                  21,360
<INCOME-TAX>                                                      8,010
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                              13,350
<DISCONTINUED>                                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                       0
<CHANGES>                                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                                     13,350
<EPS-BASIC>                                                       .22
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                       .20