Jeremy Lewis 1942 - 2017
Jeremy Lewis, who has died aged 75, was the author of “Penguin Special. The Life and Times of Allen Lane”. Self-described as a “grub street irregular” he worked in the literary world for 40 years and was a popular character. He wore many different hats, publisher, agent, author and reviewer and was known for his entertaining turn of phrase and self-deprecating sense of humour.
“Penguin Special” [2006] is the most recent biography on Allen Lane and Jeremy Lewis is remembered as a very regular reader by the archivists in Special Collections at Bristol University. A review of the title is included in the links.
In addition to the biography of Allen Lane he also published biographies of Cyril Connolly, Tobias Smollet, Graham Green and David Astor as well as three autobiographical volumes.
Linked below are a number of obituaries which cover Lewis' life and career in full.
Links (please note some require a sign on):
Bookseller obituary
The Oldie obituary
Times obituary
Telegraph obituary
Book Trust review of “Penguin Special”
