Esther Whitby 1934 - May 2026
Esther Whitby's Personal Website https://www.esthermenell.com/loose-connections/
Andre Deutsch Ltd Reunion Network Website https://www.andredeutsch.com
Suzanne Collier and Esther Whitby
Suzanne Collier first met Esther Whitby when Suzanne joined André Deutsch Ltd at the age of 16 as the Office Junior. Esther was Editorial Director and, despite having a very demanding job, was always incredibly generous with her time, encouragement and support. They stayed in touch throughout the years.
Not long after Suzanne started at André Deutsch, Esther asked if she did any writing herself. Suzanne said she'd written a few poems.
A little while later, Pam Royds, the Children's Editorial Director, told Suzanne that Esther had mentioned her poems and asked if she could see them. Suzanne handed them over and thought no more about it.
A few weeks later, Pam called Suzanne into her office and handed her a letter from one of André Deutsch's children's authors. He had read the poems and written individual comments on every one of them.
That author was Michael Rosen.
That was typical of Esther. She took an interest in a 16-year-old Office Junior and quietly did something that gave her encouragement.
Esther passed a piece of André Deutsch history to Suzanne. In the 1970s, author Jeannie Baker created a collage of the André Deutsch building in Great Russell Street. The collage lived in Diana Athill's home for many years. Diana later passed it to Esther and, before her death, Esther passed it to Suzanne.
Esther privately published her memoir, Loose Connections: From Narva Maantee to Great Russell Street, and entrusted Suzanne with the last remaining copies to sell. A minimum of £10 from every copy sold is donated to The Book Trade Charity.
If you enjoyed Diana Athill's Stet, we think you'll love Loose Connections. You'll get a charming and fascinating piece of publishing history — and help other people in the book trade at the same time.