Photo by Arthur W. Wang
The New York Times is reporting today on the death of Robert Giroux, editor and publisher of some of the 20th century’s greatest writers, including Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Lowell, Bernard Malamud, William Gaddis, Derek Walcott, and many more. He was 94.
We had the pleasure of hosting Mr. Giroux in 1993, for our Seminar devoted to the work of Elizabeth Bishop. At the time, he was editing the definitive collection of Bishop’s letters now known as One Art. Reproduced below is a letter Giroux wrote to John Malcolm Brinnin, a friend and correspondent of Bishop’s, and the organizer of that year’s Seminar. (Click to enlarge.)
A letter from Robert Giroux to John Malcolm Brinnin, 1991. (click for full-size image)
I saw the news in Publishers Lunch, and my first thought after “he will be greatly missed” was: Publishing can use more like him.
Malcolm