Athill died last night wednesday 23rd january following a short illness. Diana athills stet is a beautifully written, hardheaded, and generally insightful look back at the heyday of postwar london publishing by a woman who was at its. In 2011 athill published instead of a book, a collection of letters written to the american poet edward field between 1981 and 2007. Diana athill, crushed by an early love affair, rewrote. Diana athill recounts the story of her friendship with a young egyptian writer who comes to live with her in england on a temporary basis. Written in an even more vivid and direct style than her celebrated memoirs, diana athill s letters to the american poet edward field reveal a sharply intelligent woman with a brilliant sense of humour. Letters to a friend 2011, which featured the letters, over 30 year, from athill to the new york poet edward field.
Athills side of a 30year correspondence with her friend, the neopop poet edward field in new york. See all books authored by diana athill, including somewhere towards the end. Instead of a letter, diana athill s first work of autobiography was written when diana athill was only in her 40s, published a year after her first volume of short stories. Friendship, in fact, is the enduring subject of this book, as sex has been the subject of previous books. Instead of a book by diana athill the sunday times. Books by diana athill author of somewhere towards the end. C ertainly, theres an air of exclusivity about the place. In this classic modern memoir, diana athill dissects the terrible consequences of loss and her struggle to rebuild a personality destroyed by sadness. Publisher granta has confirmed the death of acclaimed memoirist and longtime editor diana athill, at the age of 101. Athills distinguished career as an editor is the subject of her acclaimed memoir stet. Other topics come and go, but the pleasure of affection runs through all the letters.
Athills distinguished career as an editor is the subject of her acclaimed memoir stet, which is also published by granta books, as are five volumes of memoirs, instead of a letter, after a funeral, yesterday morning, make believe, somewhere towards the end and a novel, dont look at me like that. In make believe, diana athill, acclaimed author of instead of a letter and stet, remembers her turbulent friendship with hakim jamal, a young black convert to the teachings of malcolm x, whom she met in london in the late 1960s. Diana athill audio books, best sellers, author bio. Diana athill, who has died aged 101, was one of book publishings most remarkable editors, but in the latter part of her life it was her own writing that. After a distinguished career as a book editor, diana athill 1917. Athills first memoir, instead of a letter 1963, was written when she was in her 40s. Diana athill, british literary editor turned awardwinning memoirist. Buy instead of a book by diana athill from waterstones today. A classic memoir by the author of the new york times bestseller. Diana athills childhood was idyllic, brought up in the norfolk countryside. Diana athill, who has died aged 101, was one of book publishings.
Letters to a friend diana athill instead of a book is collection of letters diana athill wrote to her friend the new york poet edward field. A memoir, and alive, alive oh and other things that matter, and more on. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. When the poet edward field suggested to diana athill that she publish the letters she had written him over 30 years, her first response was nonsense. Athill, a longtime london book editor, concluded her elegant narrative by musing on possibilities for her deathbed quotation, admitting, foolish. In this classic modern memoir, diana athill dissects the terrible consequences of loss and her. Written in an even more vivid and direct style than her celebrate. Letters to a friend first edition by athill, diana isbn.
Diana athill is writing her memoirs and in each book you get another peek. Grady hendrixs novel the southern book clubs guide to slaying vampires revolves around patricia. Athill tries to unravel the complexity of his character and behaviour charming and delightful one minute, vindictive and selfdestructive the next. Diana athills letters tackle big questions through small increments. When the poet edward field suggested to diana athill that she publish the letters she had written him over 30 years, her first response was. The pleasures of a wellwritten book are often honed by a secret legion of editors, polishing and shaping both words and soul. At 97, diana athill reflects on heartbreak, fashion and growing old. This one recounts her childhood and young adulthood and the effect on her of an unhappy love affair when she was quite young.
Diana athills most popular book is beer in the snooker club. Diana athill, an englishwoman who wrote a series of critically lauded memoirs chronicling her romantic and sexual liaisons over much of the 20th century, but who attained international literary. I got on very well with the open honest voice that relates these memories. Athill was not expecting to make new friends in her 70s, just as she was not expecting a new lover at 60. They were waiting for dianas death before publishing them but. There is a moment towards the end of instead of a book where the then octogenarian diana athill writes about meeting a contemporary at a party and telling her she has been experiencing amazing. It was athills identity as an editor, rather than as a writer, that defined much of her life. Athills distinguished career as an editor is the subject of her acclaimed memoir stet, which is also published by granta books, as are five volumes of memoirs, instead of a letter, after a funeral, yesterday morning, make believe, somewhere towards the. Instead of a letter by diana athill book the fast free shipping. Diana athill, crushed by an early love affair, rewrote herself a happier ending english author found her bearings in middle age as a book editor and writer of remarkably frank memoirs. Discover book depositorys huge selection of diana athill books online. Granta has also reissued a memoir instead of a letter and her only novel dont look at me like that.
While hardly madcap, diana athill has had an extraordinary life, and writes of it poignantly in this memoir. Diana athill, who has died aged 101, was one of the most revered editors in publishing, and a notable author in her own right about the wrecking effects of love. The nearness of death could make this a grim book, but instead it is a joyous and. Despite a desperately troubled youth, he became an. Aged only fifteen, she fell in love with a young undergraduate.
I so enjoyed instead of a letter, on my to read list, which gets longer by the day, is stet, a memoire of dianas time as an editor. Diana athill obe 21 december 1917 23 january 2019 was a british literary editor, novelist and memoirist who worked with some of the greatest writers of the 20th century at the londonbased publishing company andre deutsch ltd. Instead of a book, by diana athill the independent. Hello select your address best sellers deals store help deals store help. It is an interesting book, but not as interesting to me as stet, her book about her time in publishing. Diana athill books list of books by author diana athill. British writer diana athill is 98 by her own account, a very old woman. In the beginning, the fact that id written a book didnt come as a surprise, but the fact that the book was such a success was a big surprise. Bill eichenberger, diana athills letters to a friend is one side of. How writing has been her therapy through miscarriage.
Now, when i walk down the street in primrose hill where i used to live, all these people come tearing out to greet me. She went up to oxford in 1936, and during wwii worked as a clerk at the admiralty, and at the bbc. Born in 1917 and educated at oxford university, diana athill has written several memoirs, including instead of a letter, after a funeral, somewhere towards the end, and the new york times notable book stet, about her fiftyyear career in publishing. Diana athill project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. It was supposed to be the last volume of athills work, bookending a career she had begun with instead of a letter. Instead of a book diana athill by kristel gantner issuu. Thirty years of wit, wisdom, gossip and intimacy from diana athill, one of the nations bestselling. Diana athills books include yesterday morning and stet.
In january 2009, she was presented with an order of the british empire. Three years later he commits suicide while she is away. Then everything fell apart in the cruellest possible way. Diana athill, acclaimed author and editor who promoted the. Athill pronounced athill spent much of her career as a literary midwife, working with writers to turn rough drafts into bound books. Amongst editors, diana athill enjoyed a nearlegendary status, enabling talents such as john updike, jean rhys and v. The back cover of my book says, considered a masterpiece of the modern memoir upon publication in 1962, instead of a letter marks the begining of diana athills brillant literary career. Instead of a book diana athill 9781847084149 allen. Diana athill was born in 1917 during a zeppelin raid. Since then, she has written several more volumes of memoir, including one quite recently. Yet for all its unhappiness, instead of a letter remains a story of hope, written with the frank intelligence and lack of selfpity that have become the hallmarks of athills writing. Diana athill has a wonderful ability for description.