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Publishing Lives

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Robert McCrum explores the stories of great British publishers

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Publishing Lives: Series 2

Publishing Lives: Series 2: Episode 3: Norah Smallwood

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Episode 3

Episode 3: Norah Smallwood

Series 2

Norah Smallwood

BBC Radio 4 - Publishing Lives, Series 2, Norah Smallwood

Robert McCrum on the life of Norah Smallwood, Britain's first woman publishing leader.

The life of Norah Smallwood, Britain's first woman publisher. Robert McCrum's stories of great British publishers. From March 2014.

Robert McCrum explores the stories of five great British publishers.

Norah Smallwood was the first woman to break into the traditional gentleman's club of publishing in the early 20th Century. She joined Chatto and Windus as a secretary in 1936 and rapidly worked her way up, becoming a partner after the Second World War, and managing director between 1975 and 1982. She was on the board of the Hogarth Press and worked closely with its founder, Leonard Woolf.

Her authors included Aldous Huxley, Elizabeth Taylor, Iris Murdoch, A. S. Byatt and Toni Morrison. She also became close friends with Dirk Bogarde, then one of Britain's leading movie stars, after she heard him on a late night radio show and spotted his potential as a writer. Iris Murdoch said she was 'a combination of comrade, leader, mother, business partner and muse'.

The Observer's Robert McCrum talks to publishing insiders including Dame Gail Rebuck and Booker prize-winning author, A. S. Byatt.

Producer: Melissa FitzGerald
A Blakeway production for BBC Radio 4.

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Robert McCrum explores the stories of five great British publishers

Writer and former publisher Robert McCrum explores the stories of five great British publishers

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Publishing Lives

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Episode 3: Norah Smallwood

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