Robert McCrum
Encyclopedia
Robert McCrum is an English
writer
and editor
. He served as literary editor of The Observer
for more than ten years. In May 2008 he was appointed Associate Editor of the Observer and was succeeded as literary editor by William Skidelsky. He was formerly editor-in-chief at Faber & Faber from 1990 to 1996.
McCrum was educated at Sherborne School
, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
(MA) and the University of Pennsylvania
(Thouron Fellow) and he was then editorial director at Faber & Faber from 1979 to 1989. He writes regular reviews and is also co-author of The Story of English
(McCrum, Robert, William Cran, and Robert MacNeil
. New York: Elisabeth Sifton, 1986) and P. G. Wodehouse
: A Life (McCrum, Robert, W. W. Norton & Company, 2004).
In 1995 McCrum suffered a massive stroke
. The devastating experience and his recovery is chronicled in My Year Off. He had only been married for two months and the book includes diary entries made by his wife, the journalist Sarah Lyall
.
. He is married to Sarah Lyall
, an American-born journalist who writes for The New York Times
. They live in London with their two daughters.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
. He served as literary editor of The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
for more than ten years. In May 2008 he was appointed Associate Editor of the Observer and was succeeded as literary editor by William Skidelsky. He was formerly editor-in-chief at Faber & Faber from 1990 to 1996.
McCrum was educated at Sherborne School
Sherborne School
Sherborne School is a British independent school for boys, located in the town of Sherborne in north-west Dorset, England. It is one of the original member schools of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....
, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College, Cambridge
Corpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
(MA) and the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
(Thouron Fellow) and he was then editorial director at Faber & Faber from 1979 to 1989. He writes regular reviews and is also co-author of The Story of English
The Story of English
The Story of English is the title of an Emmy Award-winning nine-part television series, and a companion book, both produced in 1986, detailing the development of the English language....
(McCrum, Robert, William Cran, and Robert MacNeil
Robert MacNeil
Robert Breckenridge Ware MacNeil, OC, known sometimes as Robin MacNeil, , is currently a novelist and formerly was a television news anchor and journalist who had paired with Jim Lehrer to create The MacNeil/Lehrer Report in 1975.-Early life:MacNeil was born in Montreal, the son of Margaret...
. New York: Elisabeth Sifton, 1986) and P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE was an English humorist, whose body of work includes novels, short stories, plays, poems, song lyrics, and numerous pieces of journalism. He enjoyed enormous popular success during a career that lasted more than seventy years and his many writings continue to be...
: A Life (McCrum, Robert, W. W. Norton & Company, 2004).
In 1995 McCrum suffered a massive stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
. The devastating experience and his recovery is chronicled in My Year Off. He had only been married for two months and the book includes diary entries made by his wife, the journalist Sarah Lyall
Sarah Lyall
Sarah Lambert Lyall is an American-born English journalist, who currently works as London correspondent for The New York Times.-Biography:...
.
Family
He is a child of Michael William McCrumMichael William McCrum
Michael William McCrum CBE was an English academic and ancient historian who served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and Head Master of Tonbridge School and Eton College.-Life:McCrum was born at Alverstoke in Hampshire...
. He is married to Sarah Lyall
Sarah Lyall
Sarah Lambert Lyall is an American-born English journalist, who currently works as London correspondent for The New York Times.-Biography:...
, an American-born journalist who writes for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. They live in London with their two daughters.