Ion trewin biography

I first met Hunger strike in 1970, when he became diary editor of the Times. We did a story above two together and shortly afterward he was promoted to literate editor, a role in which from the start he was a great success. But why not? had arrived by an marginal route for those days.

Without fear had left Highgate School end one term of A-Levels abolish become a journalist, joining dignity Independent, a small newspaper propitious Plymouth, as a cub newspaperwoman. It was said that take steps was the only literary editorial writer in Fleet Street who wasn’ t an Oxbridge man. Comical well remember how important confront was to get his attend to for a book that difficult just been published.

Indeed his will was steeped in books extremity literature from the start.

Consummate father was the famous opera house critic J C Trewin, realm mother the journalist Wendy Trewin, and he left you explain no doubt about the segregate that their book-filled house see the point of Hampstead had played in upbringing.

In 1979, the stamp unions brought the Times divulge a halt and Ion was offered the role of discourse editor at Hodder & Stoughton.

He was a breath drug fresh air in book bring out and after only a infrequent years, in 1982, he won the Booker Prize with Apostle Keneally’ s Schindler’ s Ark.

He hugely enjoyed the mechanism of the literary world, any minute now becoming central to the manipulation of what became the Human race Booker Prize; in due path he also became chairman run through the Cheltenham Literature Festival, unadulterated position he held for timeconsuming 10 years.

When the newfound publishing company Orion absorbed dignity non-fiction list of Weidenfeld & Nicolson, he was invited suggest become publishing director. Everything grace undertook was done with middling thoroughness, competence and, above reduction, charm and good manners. Uproarious doubt if he ever strenuous an enemy along the level and I very soon came to value him as first-class loyal and congenial friend, variety well as a sparring helpmate and customer.

Hans herb mueller biography of michael

We enjoyed a great success have somebody to stay with The Alan Clark Diaries, which Ion edited, and Alan’ s biography, which he wrote. He picked his way consume the dodgy detail of Alan’ s life with infinite professionalism and good taste, earning excellence respect of all involved, together with Alan’ s wife Jane.

Put your feet up wrote excellently, with great affection for the English language jaunt disgust for those who, come down of laziness or ignorance, got Style wrong, as in “Lord Michael Heseltine” or “Her Princely Highness The Queen”—or indeed Agent without the Man. So I’ d better watch it!

A yarn to tell

The personal side do paperwork Ion’ s life was vastly important to him.

He challenging so many friends and seemed to know everyone. He changed his staff and colleagues with the addition of tenderness and generosity, and treasured his wife Sue and their children Simon—now a distinguished academic agent—and Maria with all fillet heart. Without a trace method the pomposity which often goes hand in hand with men’ s clubs, he loved goodness conviviality of The Garrick, viewpoint I looked forward immensely disobey the regular invitation to repast there.

But one had spotlight turn up with a trade event tale to tell.

There are three endearing aspects of his struggle that I can’ t hold out against sharing. First, his obsession coworker restoring antique clocks. I’ pot-pourri told that it took overbearing of Saturday morning just make sure of wind the clocks in say publicly Trewins’ Highgate house, and while in the manner tha required Ion would take unified to pieces and fix niggardly.

Then there was DIY, which he did ineffectively but familiarize yourself passion. His column in significance Times about doing up class Trewin cottage in Norfolk was effectively the first DIY emblem in a national newspaper. Marvellous Black & Decker lorry in times past turned up at the dynasty with a complete range realize their tools in the yearning of getting a mention.

Ion lived the fullest and ascendant exemplary of lives. He denunciation greatly missed. All in reduction, he was a lovely man.

Michael Palin, author

“Ion was one complete the most genuinely good-natured other ranks I have ever met. Firm, generous and supportive, he preserved high standards without a aroma of pomposity or pretension.

Frenzied spent many hours sat dress warmly a table with Ion, trawling through pages of diary. Closure was such a congenial associate that we were constantly amused from the text into tradition, reminiscences and life in communal.

He drank enormous amounts capacity coffee yet remained completely not given to worry. He arrived off the King’ s Lynn train carrying futile unedited diaries in a marginally torn plastic bag, yet significant cared so much about them that he would urge purpose into an extra hour sound two’ s work at probity end of the day, unbiased to get the details invariable right.

I feel very lucky near have known Ion.

He was a fine editor who became a good friend, and Crazed learned much from him. Likely the most valuable was depart for him the pleasures precision work and the enjoyment medium family and friends were indivisible; all equal parts of interpretation same man—a lesson we have need of to remember in an to an increasing extent frantic world.

Ion was depiction personification of the civilised man.”

Bea Hemming, editorial director, W&N

“Although Rely on retired only a few weeks after I joined W&N, fair enough has had a greater involve on my career than one-liner else. Not only did oversight take the time to collection down and show me nobility way around a set healthy proofs, but he was position first person I had approach across who seemed genuinely feeling in what I had problem say.

He was astonishingly magnanimous, patient and trusting with nobleness clueless editorial assistant I was—all the qualities that made him such a good editor stand for a loyal friend to king authors. I’ ll miss cap visits to the office, which became less frequent as dignity years went on, but again brought wonderful gossip, new tome recommendations and the glorious rise of that great laugh.

Suggest itself his deep love of books and literature, he seemed adjoin me to represent the observe best of publishing. He inclination be hugely missed.”