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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Marilyn Edwards obituary | Marilyn Edwards obituary |
| (6 months later) | |
| Brian Alderson | |
| Thu 20 Jul 2017 14.38 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 19.48 GMT | |
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| When Marilyn Edwards, who has died aged 71, took up a job at the Publishers Association in 1965, she found herself at the focal point of a book trade still retaining something of its character as a cottage industry – dozens of independent publishers, each with its own characteristics, serving bookshops up and down the country. It was full of appeal to her enthusiastic and gregarious temperament. | When Marilyn Edwards, who has died aged 71, took up a job at the Publishers Association in 1965, she found herself at the focal point of a book trade still retaining something of its character as a cottage industry – dozens of independent publishers, each with its own characteristics, serving bookshops up and down the country. It was full of appeal to her enthusiastic and gregarious temperament. |
| Marilyn was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, eldest daughter of Gordon Edwards, a chest physician, and his wife, Helen (nee Garner). After schooling in Leeds, she went to secretarial college in Bradford. Her first job was as live-in secretary to Chad Varah, the founder of the Samaritans, after which she moved to the Publishers Association. | Marilyn was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, eldest daughter of Gordon Edwards, a chest physician, and his wife, Helen (nee Garner). After schooling in Leeds, she went to secretarial college in Bradford. Her first job was as live-in secretary to Chad Varah, the founder of the Samaritans, after which she moved to the Publishers Association. |
| Within a few years she came to be highly regarded both for her efficiency (despite an apparent aversion to filing systems) and her grasp of trade affairs. She was closely involved with the founding of the Booker prize in 1969, becoming its first press officer. As secretary to the Educational Publishers Council, she was familiar with the work of the National Book League, and became its children’s books officer in 1971. | Within a few years she came to be highly regarded both for her efficiency (despite an apparent aversion to filing systems) and her grasp of trade affairs. She was closely involved with the founding of the Booker prize in 1969, becoming its first press officer. As secretary to the Educational Publishers Council, she was familiar with the work of the National Book League, and became its children’s books officer in 1971. |
| Her work in that capacity so impressed Tom Maschler of Jonathan Cape that he persuaded her to join that still independent company as publicity director. A demanding part of this work was the organising of nationwide promotional tours, taking authors to the hoped-for razzmatazz of signing sessions, media visits and the like. | Her work in that capacity so impressed Tom Maschler of Jonathan Cape that he persuaded her to join that still independent company as publicity director. A demanding part of this work was the organising of nationwide promotional tours, taking authors to the hoped-for razzmatazz of signing sessions, media visits and the like. |
| In the course of these duties she met the writer Geoffrey Moorhouse, whom she married in 1983. Both were enamoured of the north country and they moved to a dwelling outside Hawes at the head of Wensleydale, whence Marilyn continued her career as a rep for Allen & Unwin. The marriage did not last, and Marilyn returned to London to work as key account manager for the now vastly expanded Random House. | In the course of these duties she met the writer Geoffrey Moorhouse, whom she married in 1983. Both were enamoured of the north country and they moved to a dwelling outside Hawes at the head of Wensleydale, whence Marilyn continued her career as a rep for Allen & Unwin. The marriage did not last, and Marilyn returned to London to work as key account manager for the now vastly expanded Random House. |
| She married her boss, Michael Dugdale, in 1997, taking instruction to join him in his Catholic faith and inviting what seemed like the whole of the London book trade to a nuptial high mass and a tremendous wedding breakfast. On retirement they moved to the Cumbrian village of Hutton Roof, looking southward across the dales to Ingleborough. | She married her boss, Michael Dugdale, in 1997, taking instruction to join him in his Catholic faith and inviting what seemed like the whole of the London book trade to a nuptial high mass and a tremendous wedding breakfast. On retirement they moved to the Cumbrian village of Hutton Roof, looking southward across the dales to Ingleborough. |
| Before leaving Random House, Marilyn had been working with the author Susan Hill, from whom she had adopted a kitten – a fatal move for so warm-hearted an animal-lover. Before long, she and Michael found themselves with a further cat, observation of whose activities led to her writing The Cats of Moon Cottage, which was published by Hodder in 2003, with illustrations by Peter Warner. Its success, and the coming of more cats, inspired three further volumes in the saga, which were themselves followed by two novels for children, White Chin (2010) and Magnificat (2013), illustrated by France Bauduin and published, appropriately, by Catnip. | Before leaving Random House, Marilyn had been working with the author Susan Hill, from whom she had adopted a kitten – a fatal move for so warm-hearted an animal-lover. Before long, she and Michael found themselves with a further cat, observation of whose activities led to her writing The Cats of Moon Cottage, which was published by Hodder in 2003, with illustrations by Peter Warner. Its success, and the coming of more cats, inspired three further volumes in the saga, which were themselves followed by two novels for children, White Chin (2010) and Magnificat (2013), illustrated by France Bauduin and published, appropriately, by Catnip. |
| The happiness of these productive years was marred in 2015 by the onset of cancer. Marilyn was sustained by her faith and retained her vitality. | The happiness of these productive years was marred in 2015 by the onset of cancer. Marilyn was sustained by her faith and retained her vitality. |
| She is survived by Michael and his three children; by three stepchildren from her first marriage; and by her sisters, Judy and Margot. | She is survived by Michael and his three children; by three stepchildren from her first marriage; and by her sisters, Judy and Margot. |
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