Robert McCrum

Robert McCrum. Robert McCrum is a distinguished British writer, editor, and literary critic, renowned for his influential work in publishing and his insightful commentary on literature and language. His career spans decades at the helm of major publishing houses, prolific journalism for leading newspapers, and the authorship of acclaimed works of non-fiction and biography. He is perhaps best known globally for his seminal collaboration on the television series and book The Story of English, which charted the history and evolution of the English language.

Early life and education

Born in Cambridge, England, McCrum was educated at Marlborough College, a prominent independent school. He subsequently read English literature at Cambridge University, where he was a member of Corpus Christi College. His academic background in the literary canon and critical theory at these esteemed institutions provided a foundational knowledge that would deeply inform his future career in the world of letters, publishing, and criticism.

Career in publishing

McCrum's publishing career began at the prestigious firm Faber and Faber, where he worked alongside notable figures like T. S. Eliot's successor, Charles Monteith. He rose to become the editor-in-chief and later the publisher at Faber and Faber, playing a key role in shaping the literary landscape of the late 20th century. In 1990, he moved to the United States to serve as the editor-in-chief of the New York-based publisher W. W. Norton, bringing a transatlantic perspective to his editorial work before returning to London.

Literary criticism and journalism

As a literary critic, McCrum has been a long-standing associate editor and contributor to The Observer, where his reviews and essays are widely respected. His journalism has also appeared in other major publications such as The Guardian, The TLS, and The New York Times. He served as the literary editor of The Observer for nearly a decade, where he championed new writers and engaged in critical debates, solidifying his reputation as a central voice in Anglophone literary culture.

The Story of English and other works

McCrum achieved international fame as the co-writer of the groundbreaking 1986 television series The Story of English, produced by the BBC in association with MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. The accompanying book, co-authored with Robert MacNeil and William Cran, became a global bestseller. His other notable works include Wodehouse: A Life, a definitive biography of P. G. Wodehouse, and the deeply personal memoir Every Third Thought, which reflects on life after a near-fatal stroke he suffered in 1995. He has also written novels and regularly contributes to discussions on broadcast media such as BBC Radio 4.

Personal life

In 1995, at the age of 42, McCrum suffered a severe stroke, an experience he documented in his memoir My Year Off. He married American journalist Sarah Lyall in 2003; Lyall was a correspondent for The New York Times based in London. He has been open about the profound impact of his health crisis on his perspective, often writing and speaking on themes of mortality, recovery, and the brain, contributing to public understanding of neurology and resilience.

Category:British writers Category:British literary critics Category:English-language writers