Christopher Foyle, 79, former chairman of Foyle’s bookshops in the UK, died on August 10 of acute myeloid leukaemia. The bookstore chain said in a statement, “Christopher’s vision inspired the Foyles of today: after taking the helm in 1999, he modernized the business, opening new branches and was instrumental in creating the magnificent new Foyles flagship bookshop on Charing Cross Road which opened in 2014.”
Obits
Obituary: David McCullough, 89
The bestselling author of 12 books and two-time winner of both the Pulitzer and the National Book Award, David McCullough died on Sunday at 89, “surrounded by his five children in Hingham, MA.” His wife, Rosalee, died two months ago. Simon & Schuster ceo Jonathan Karp said in a statement: “David McCullough was a national treasure. His books brought history to life for millions of readers. Through his biographies, he dramatically illustrated the most ennobling parts of the American character. Simon & Schuster has been honored to be David’s publisher for 54 years. He was greatly admired and beloved throughout […]
Obituary: Albert Woodfox
Author and activist Albert Woodfox, 75, died in New Orleans recently. After spending four decades in solitary confinement in the Angola prison in Louisiana, Woodfox wrote Solitary, which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Nonfiction, and winner of the Stowe Prize, among other honors. Grove Atlantic editor George Gibson who edited Solitary writes, “Albert was the most remarkable and courageous person I have ever met. We were honored to know him and to publish his powerful book.”
Obituary: Melissa Bank
Bestselling author Melissa Bank, 61, who wrote The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing and The Wonder Spot, died on August 2, in East Hampton, NY, after a struggle with lung cancer.
Obituary: Robert Scudellari
Robert (Bob) Scudellari, 88, who was corporate art director at Random House in the 70s and 80s, died on June 3. Scudellari designed books jackets for John Cheever, Toni Morrison, Robert Caro, John le Carré, Anne Rice, and many more, as well as creating the overall design for Random House Modern Library and the black-jacket Library of America line. Erroll McDonald of Knopf said, “He was a lovely and hugely talented man renowned for his signature jacket designs, his enduring typographic branding of authors.”
Obituary: Stuart Woods
Stuart Woods, 84, died at home in Connecticut on July 22. He was the author of more than 90 novels, beginning with Chiefs in 1981, and served on the boards of the Authors Guild Foundation since 2004. Putnam published his memoir, An Extravagant Life, in June, and will publish the next two books in the Stone Barrington series in August and October.