Chiswick Book Festival Joins Tributes to Malcolm Edwards

Publisher who helped found the event died at the weekend

Chiswick Book Festival co-founder Malcolm Edwards (right) with literary agent Jon Wood. Picture: BookBrunch

October 8, 2026

Malcolm Edwards, the publisher who played a central role in the creation of the Chiswick Book Festival, has died aged 76.

The news was announced by his family at the weekend and has prompted tributes from authors, literary agents and colleagues across the publishing industry.

In 2009, he and his wife, Jacks Thomas, became co-founders of the Chiswick Book Festival alongside festival director Torin Douglas.

“There would have been no Chiswick Book Festival without Malcolm Edwards,” he said. “He and his wife Jacks Thomas were co-founders of the Festival in 2009 and it was Malcolm’s authors and Jacks’s energy that got the Festival off to a flying start and ensured it never looked back.”

He recalled that Malcolm had initially suggested the festival should start cautiously.

“I thought we should start slowly,” he said. “Their idea of ‘slowly’ was Lady Antonia Fraser, Anthony Horowitz, Michael Frayn and Jacqueline Wilson, who all drew large and appreciative audiences to St Michael & All Angels Church.”

The festival's history records the part played by the couple establishing what has become a major annual literary event in Chiswick.

Torin added: “Malcolm will be very much missed. Our condolences to Jacks and their family.”

Malcolm was a major figure in British publishing, with a career spanning more than four decades. He began at Gollancz in 1976, where he developed a formidable science-fiction list and worked with authors including Brian Aldiss, Arthur C. Clarke, Philip K. Dick, Frank Herbert, Ursula K. Le Guin and Terry Pratchett.

Among the highlights of his time at Gollancz was a remarkable month in 1984 when he published J.G. Ballard's Empire of the Sun, William Gibson's Neuromancer and Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood.

He later moved to HarperCollins, where he became Fiction Publishing Director. Among the authors he worked with were Stephen Baxter, Tom Clancy, Clive Cussler, David Eddings, Alan Furst, James Herbert and Peter Straub. He published Michael Dobbs' House of Cards novels and George R.R. Martin's A Game of Thrones.

His career included the publication of Stephen King's The Green Mile as a paperback serial in 1996, for which he was named Editor of the Year at the British Book Awards.

Malcolm joined Orion Books in 1998 as Managing Director, becoming Deputy Chief Executive and Publisher in 2003. During his time there he worked with a long list of leading authors, including Maeve Binchy, Harlan Coben, Michael Connelly, Julian Fellowes, Gillian Flynn, Anthony Horowitz, Ian Rankin and Carlos Ruiz Zafón.

His non-fiction list included books by the Hairy Bikers, Richard Hammond, Michael Palin, Keith Richards, Julie Walters and Malala Yousafzai. He also played a significant role in developing Orion's SF Masterworks, SF Gateway and Murder Room digital lists.

Orion was named Publisher of the Year at the 2005 British Book Awards.

Malcolm left Hachette in 2019. Later that year, at Worldcon Dublin, George R.R. Martin presented him with the Alfie Award for his editing. He subsequently received the Terry Pratchett HoneyBee Award.

He went on to become Publisher of André Deutsch, part of the Welbeck group, and later worked as a consultant.

Tributes following his death have highlighted not only his achievements as a publisher but also his character and his approach to working with authors and colleagues.

Ian Rankin described him as a “properly old-school publisher” who regarded people as being as important as the books they wrote, read, sold or published. He recalled Malcolm as having “one of the sharpest minds in the business” while also being charming and unflappable.

Anthony Horowitz said he owed Edwards a great deal, describing him as “a wonderful publisher and a loyal friend” who had supported some of his best work, including The House of Silk and Magpie Murders.

Rob Wilkins of the Terry Pratchett Estate called Edwards “a titan” who had taught him more about publishing than anyone else in the business. He said Pratchett himself had always had “nothing but praise and respect” for Malcolm, even during difficult negotiations.

Literary agent Amanda Harris said his publishing legacy “cannot be overestimated”, pointing to the number of successful books he had commissioned and the subsequent film and television adaptations.

She also recalled a lesson she had learned from him: “The most important lesson of business he taught me, which is one I am most grateful for, was to be kind.”

Others similarly remembered Malcolm's intelligence alongside his generosity, humour and ability to develop the people around him.

Jonathan Lloyd described him as an “inspired and inspiring publisher” with vast knowledge, impeccable taste and a constant sense of humour, while Jon Wood said Edwards was rare in being both “the smartest person in the room” and “the wisest”.

Lisa Milton, who said Malcolm gave her her biggest career break, recalled his ability to create teams in which people were empowered to do their best work, while Si King of the Hairy Bikers said Malcolm’s guidance and encouragement had helped him begin writing.

Chiswick Book Festival is planning a celebration of Malcolm’s life and career in publishing in due course.