Marilyn Malin
Marilyn Malin | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1935 or 1936 |
| Died | 2022 |
| Education | North London Collegiate School |
| Alma mater | King's College London |
| Occupations |
|
| Known for | managing director at Methuen Children's Books |
Marilyn Malin was a British literary agent, an editor and a publisher; she was the managing director of Methuen Children's Books.
Early life and education
Marilyn's parents were Irene (née Littenberg) and Albert Malin; she was Jewish, and born and brought up in Golders Green, London.[1] She had at least one sister.[1] Marilyn attended North London Collegiate School.[1] She was awarded a state scholarship, which she took up at King's College London.[1][2]
Career
Malin got a job as a secretary at the publishers Blackie and Son in the 1950s.[1] In the 1960s she joined Methuen Children's Books, first as an assistant to Olive Jones.[1] She became assistant children's books editor in 1965, and, towards the end of the 1960s, managing director.[1][2] With Charles Shirley, she "create[d] the separate entity of Methuen Children's Books. It was an outward-looking company whose sense of identity was enhanced by bright design, a keen marketing drive, and a strong European flavour".[3] Malin was described as one of the "eminent editorial directors of her time".[4] Her acceptance, in 1966 with Olive Jones, of The River Kings by Max Fatchen, has been described as the result of "a culture of calculated risk".[5]
In the 1980s, Malin left Methuen to become a literary agent.[4]
Malin was the UK editor for Astrid Lindgren, and for Ivan Southall.[6][7] She was editor for Rosemary Manning, and wrote about her for the journal Bookbird.[8] She published Michael Morpurgo's Warhorse, and books by Floella Benjamin, John Agard and James Berry.[1] She worked with Michael Palin on his children's book Small Harry.[9] Malin was the agent for Kjartan Poskitt,[10] She was a mentor to the illustrator Jane Pinkney.[11] Malin commissioned a book written by Alison Prince with 21 primary school children.[12]
In 1986 Malin started her own publishing imprint, Marilyn Malin Books, in partnership with André Deutsch.[1][13]
Personal life
Malin died in 2022 aged 86.[1][4][14]
Publications
- "Ruth Manning-Saunders: a memoir", in Bookbird, 1989 (27,1) pp 9–10
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Nissen, Jane (28 February 2022). "Marilyn Malin obituary". the Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ a b The Publisher. Publishers Circular, Limited. 1966. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Ross, David (28 August 1995). "Fresh looks for books. Obituary: Charles Shirley". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ a b c Comerford, Ruth (21 February 2022). "Marilyn Marin dies, aged 86". The Bookseller. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Male, Andrew (1997). Other Times: The Life and Work of Max Fatchen. Wakefield Press. p. 158. ISBN 978-1-86254-383-6. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Epstein, B.J. (2014). True North: Literary Translation in the Nordic Countries. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 135. ISBN 978-1-4438-6118-2. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Steggall, Stephany Evans (2006). The Loved and the Lost: The Life of Ivan Southall. Lothian Books. ISBN 978-0-7344-0948-5. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Marilyn Malin, Great Britain". Bookbird (v. 25). the International Board on Books for Young People. 1987. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Palin, Michael (2009). Halfway To Hollywood: Diaries 1980-1988 (Volume Two). Orion. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-297-86051-8. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Children's News". The Bookseller (5441): 18. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "An artist's bolthole". The Yorkshire Post. 22 October 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Gudgin, Chris (1 July 1987). "Discovering How". Books For Keeps – The Children's Book Magazine Online. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ Hill, Richard (1 May 1986). "Marilyn Malin – Own Brand Books". Books For Keeps – The Children's Book Magazine Online. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
- ^ "Marilyn Malin, 86: Insightful publisher of books that 'children actually want to read'". The Times & The Sunday Times. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
