Product Description

Diana Athill's memoir of a life spent working with some of the charismatic characters who have dominated 20th-century literature. In a prose style of inimitable wit and rare candour, she recounts tales from a long life in publishing, including her reflections on editing writers such as V.S. Naipaul, Jean Rhys, Gitta Sereny and Brian Moore. She also provides an account of her own writing career, whcih includes the two critically-acclaimed works, "Instead of a Letter" and "After a Funeral".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #13428 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Diana Athill has had a most interesting and varied life, and the title she has chosen for her autobiography is proofreaders' jargon for "Let it stand". In other words: no regrets. It's a fine title. As a grand old lady of British publishing, Athill can look back on 50 years of work with the great Andre Deutsch, and many close-working relationships with writers such as VS Naipaul, Jean Rhys and Brian Moore. One of the distinguishing features of Athill's book is its honesty, both with her colleagues and with herself. (She has already been scolded by another reviewer for revealing that she had an affair with Andre Deutsch, and once kissed one of her authors). Her portrait of Brian Moore is not always very flattering, and as for Naipaul, it is with a sigh of relief that she admits that they are no longer friends, and she is free to admire him simply as a writer, if not as a man. And there is a whole chapter devoted to a forgotten and tragic character called Alfred Chester, whom Athill edited for a while. He ended up in Israel living virtually as a hermit, until he died of heart failure brought on by drink and drugs. It was all "horribly sad". The final sense, however, is one of tremendous energy and enthusiasm for all things bookish, and one can relish the grand, throwaway manner. Of her early girlhood, she recalls simply, "Reading was what one did indoors, as riding was what one did out of doors".--Christopher Hart

About the Author
Diana Athill was born in 1917. She worked for the BBC throughout the Second World War before helping Andre Deutsch establish the publishing company that bore his name. For almost fifty years she was widely regarded as one of the finest editors in London, as well as a considerable and unjustly neglected writer. Two of what she called her 'documentary' books, After a Funeral and Instead of a Letter, anticipated the modern memoir in their directness and intimacy. After a Funeral is issued by Granta to coincide with the publication of Stet. Diana Athill lives in London NW3.

Customer Reviews

So enjoyable
Stet reads like the conversation of a friend, and this shows Diana Athill's skill as a writer. Without quite realising it, I have ended up with a head full of vivid images from this book, even though it's a book about publishing - not my conception of the most vivid of industries. I wish the book was much longer, and I did find the structure a bit disjointed; otherwise I would have given it 5 stars. A real pleasure to read.

Stet
I bought this book to learn more about writing and publishing and because I had also bought Diana Athill's "Towards the End" (not read it yet!)which was published recently and wanted to read her earlier work first.
I thought it would be rather dry and dull but I was totally wrong! It is a fascinating account of her many years with the publishing company Andre Deutsch; of personal stories of the writers that she met, many of whom needed nurturing in more ways than simply editing their work and many who became good friends. Miss Athill writes beautifully. Her prose is chatty and flows so well. This is a great read, brimming with nostalgia, humour and honesty. For more than 50 years, she enjoyed the accolade of being "one of the best editors in London": this little paper back shows why! "Stet" is a great title! Meaning "let it stand", I am sure that it will stand the test of time and remain enjoyed by many. I am now bursting to get on and read more of her work!

Stet by Diana Athill
This is a fly on the wall view of the world of publishing. Diana Athill joined Andre Deutsch when he was setting up this now legendary firm just after the Second World War and she remained there for fifty years. The first half of the book concentrates on the progress of the company as they move into bigger and bigger premises in central London. Diana always grabs the smallest office she can find so that she doesn't have to share with anyone! The second part focuses on her working relationships with a number of major authors including Jean Rhys and V S Naipaul which are absolutely fascinating and extremely candid. Athill is a very natural, self effacing writer. As with all her memoirs, you do come away feeling that you have made a new friend.