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List of UK literary agencies

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This is a list of the major UK literary agencies, by order of the year of their establishment, including selected notable clients.

Literary agencies

[edit]
Year founded Agency Management Notable clients Website Notes
1875 A P Watt Caradoc King (chairman and joint managing director), Derek Johns (joint managing director) Philip Pullman www.apwatt.co.uk

www.unitedagents.co.uk/ap-watt

Oldest literary agency in the world. In December 2012 A P Watt joined the United Agents Partnership.[1]
1898 (US) WME (UK) Simon Trewin (head of UK Literary Division)[2] www.wmeagency.com Formerly William Morris Endeavor. The largest talent agency in the world, having been created in 2009 by the merger of the William Morris Agency and the Endeavor Agency.
1899 Curtis Brown Jonathan Lloyd (chief executive), Jonny Geller (managing director, books division) Bonnie Garmus,Bono, Monica Ali, John Le Carré, Daphne du Maurier curtisbrown.co.uk
1919 AM Heath Bill Hamilton (managing director) Hilary Mantel, George Orwell (estate) www.amheath.com
1924 Peters Fraser & Dunlop (PFD) Caroline Michel (chief executive) Simon Schama, Jeanette Winterson, C. S. Forester (estate) www.petersfraserdunlop.com Part of the Rights House Group, which was established in 2010, PFD is the result of a 1989 merger between the A. D. Peters Agency and the Fraser and Dunlop Agency.
1932 Eric Glass Ltd ericglass.agency Founded in 1932 by Eric Glass.
1935 David Higham Associates Anthony Goff (managing director) J. M. Coetzee, Roald Dahl (estate), Stephen Fry, Eric Hobsbawm, Jacqueline Wilson, Rosemary Sutcliff www.davidhigham.co.uk Originally Pearn, Pollinger & Higham; David Higham Associates since 1956.
1956[3] Johnson & Alcock Michael Alcock, Andrew Hewson Candace Allen, Beryl Bainbridge (estate), Lawrence Scott, D. M. Thomas www.johnsonandalcock.co.uk Created in 2003 by the merger of Michael Alcock Management and the John Johnson Agency.[4]
1961 Roger Hancock Ltd Lucy Hancock (director)[5] Tony Hancock, Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie, Annie Leake [3] Founded in 1961 by Roger Hancock.
1962 Sheil Land Associates Sonia Land (chief executive)[6] Peter Ackroyd, Melvyn Bragg,[7] Susan Hill,[8] Patrick O’Brian (estate)[9] www.sheilland.co.uk Based in London, UK. Incorporates Richard Scott Simon Ltd (1971) and Christy & Moore Ltd (1912). Overseas associates: Georges Borchardt, Inc. (USA).[10]
1963[11] Greene & Heaton Carol Heaton Michael Frayn, Richard Reed www.greeneheaton.co.uk Founded by Elaine Greene, who was later joined by Carol Heaton.[12]
1967 Rogers, Coleridge & White Gill Coleridge (chairman), Peter Straus (managing director) David Aaronovitch, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Nick Hornby, Kazuo Ishiguro, James Kelman, Ian McEwan, Caryl Phillips, Zadie Smith, Meera Syal, Donna Tartt www.rcwlitagency.com Founded as Deborah Rogers Ltd by Deborah Rogers who was soon joined by Pat White and in 1988 by Gill Coleridge when Rogers, Coleridge & White was formed. Representing adult fiction and non-fiction, and children's and YA.
1970 Watson, Little Ltd James Wills (managing director) Lynne Reid Banks, D. J. Enright, Margaret Mahy, James Wong, Evie Wyld www.watsonlittle.com Founded by Sheila Watson and Mandy Little. Based in London, UK.
1973 (US)[13] Janklow & Nesbit (UK) Will Francis (Managing Director, London office)[14] Alan Rusbridger, Rebecca Stott www.janklowandnesbit.co.uk London office opened in 2000.[13]
1974[15] Independent Talent Duncan Heath (chairman), Paul Lyon-Maris (deputy chairman and managing director), Lyndsey Posner (managing director – corporate affairs)[16] Founded as Duncan Heath & Associates, which was bought by ICM in 1985.[17] In 1991, ICM merged Duncan Heath & Associates with its UK office and, in 2002, a management buyout took place.[18] The agency was renamed Independent Talent in August 2007.[18]
1974 MBA Diana Tyler (joint managing director), Laura Longrigg (joint managing director) www.mbalit.co.uk Represents writers in all media, including books, and scripts for film, television, radio and theatre.
1976[19] Ed Victor Literary Agency Ed Victor (executive chairman), Sophie Hicks (joint managing director), Margaret Phillips (joint managing director)[3] www.edvictor.com Acquired by Curtis Brown in 2017.[20]
1976 Aitken Alexander Associates Gillon Aitken (chairman), Clare Alexander (joint managing director), Sally Riley (joint managing director) www.aitkenalexander.co.uk Originally Gillon Aitken Associates, and operated for a time as Aitken & Stone.
1982 Blake Friedmann Carole Blake (joint managing director), Julian Friedmann (joint managing director) www.blakefriedmann.co.uk Created by the merger of Julian Friedmann Literary Agency and the Carole Blake Literary Agency, which were founded in 1976 and 1977 respectively.
1985 Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency Caroline Sheldon John Agard, Patrice Lawrence www.carolinesheldon.co.uk Representing a roster of authors and illustrators, the agency's particular areas of interest are fiction and all types of children's books.[21]
1988 Andrew Lownie Literary Agency Andrew Lownie (managing director) www.andrewlownie.co.uk
1988 Darley Anderson Darley Anderson (founder and proprietor)[22] Lee Child, Martina Cole www.darleyanderson.com
1995 David Godwin Associates (DGA) David Godwin (director), Heather Godwin (director)[23] Sade Adeniran, Lucy Ellmann, Aminatta Forna, Ian Jack, Vikram Seth, Marina Warner davidgodwinassociates.com Based in London, DGA represent a varied list of international writers, including novelists, poets, biographers, historians and journalists.
1996[24] Lucas Alexander Whitley (LAW) Mark Lucas (director), Julian Alexander (director), Araminta Whitley (director), Philippa Milnes-Smith (managing director)[24] Frank Gardner, Sophie Kinsella, Andy McNab, Kate Mosse, Condé Nast, Philip Reeve, Chris Riddell, Nigel Slater, Alison Weir http://www.lawagency.co.uk/ Based in London, UK, LAW was founded in 1996[25] by literary agents Mark Lucas, Julian Alexander, and Araminta Whitley. In 2001 Philippa Milnes-Smith joined the agency from Penguin Children's Books to create a children's and YA department.[26]
1997[27] Annette Green Authors' Agency (AGA) Annette Green, David Smith,[27] Adam Macqueen, Elizabeth Haynes, Maria McCann, Ian Marchant, Louis Barfe, Katherine Clements http://www.annettegreenagency.co.uk/ AGA was founded in 1997 by Annette Green. In 2001 David Smith, previously of Time Out magazine, joined the agency from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer law firm.
1997 BookBlast Ltd Georgia de Chamberet, Jemma Jupp, Ben Fiagbe Lesley Blanch (estate), George Elton Mayo (estate) http://www.bookblast.com London-based agency set up by a commissioning editor specialising in translations,[28] representing literature with a cross cultural focus[29] and literary estates. Also promotes the output of independent publishers.[30]

First website launched in 2000.[31]

2000[32] Conville & Walsh Clare Conville, Patrick Walsh, Jake Smith-Bosanquet (managing director), Alan Oliver (finance director)[33] DBC Pierre, S. J. Watson, Charlie Brooker, Belle de Jour, Vic Reeves, Francis Bacon (estate) www.convilleandwalsh.com
2002[34] Jenny Brown Associates Jenny Brown www.jennybrownassociates.com The largest literary agency in Scotland.[34]
2003 Eve White Literary Agency Eve White (Owner, CEO and Agent), Ludo Cinelli (Managing Director and Agent) Andy Stanton, Ruth Ware, Yvvette Edwards, Eloise Head, Abie Longstaff, Tracey Corderoy, Rae Earl Johnson, Sarah Ockwell-Smith, Luan Goldie. www.evewhite.co.uk Independent literary agency founded in 2003 by Eve White and based in London, UK. Eve White Literary Agency represents authors of fiction, non-fiction and children's/YA fiction. Its authors' books have gone on to become bestsellers, win awards and be longlisted for the Booker Prize and Women's Prize for Fiction.
2005 Graham Maw Christie Literary Agency Jennifer Christie, Jane Graham Maw Raynor Winn,

Vex King, Michael Foley

www.grahammawchristie.com A UK agency in London specialising in non-fiction, with a host of international bestsellers and Sunday Times Bestsellers across a wide range of subjects.
2007 United Agents Peter Bennett-Jones (co-chairman), Lindy King (co-chairman), St. John Donald (managing director)[35] www.unitedagents.co.uk In October 2013 Jon Elek of United Agents sold the North American rights for Tina Seskis's debut novel One Step Too Far to HarperCollins’s William Morrow imprint for $500,000.[36]
2008 Writers House UK Angharad Kowal (managing director) www.writershouse.com In April 2008, Writers House opened Writers House UK, a London-based office run by Angharad Kowal, dedicated to selling and supporting US Authors directly in the United Kingdom, British Commonwealth, Australia, and New Zealand. The UK office closed in 2017.[37]
2009 The Bent Agency Jenny Bent, Molly Ker Hawn http://www.thebentagency.com Based in London and New York. representing adult fiction and non-fiction, and children's and YA with a commitment to building bestsellers.
2012[38] Madeleine Milburn Ltd Madeleine Milburn, Giles Milburn CJ Daugherty, Cally Taylor

Fiona Barton, Holly Bourne, Nuala Ellwood, Gail Honeyman, C.J. Tudor

www.madeleinemilburn.co.uk Literary, TV & Film Agency based in Mayfair, London, founded by Madeleine Milburn in February 2012[39] Representing adult fiction and non-fiction, and children's and YA, with a reputation for launching new writers on a global level in major deals[40]
2012 Hardman & Swainson Caroline Hardman & Joanna Swainson (founders & literary agents), Hannah Ferguson (literary agent) www.hardmanswainson.com Based in London, UK, Hardman & Swainson was founded in June 2012[41] by Caroline Hardman and Joanna Swainson. In September 2014, Hannah Ferguson joined the agency from the Marsh Agency.[42] Hardman & Swainson represents a range of fiction and non-fiction.
2012 Elise Dillsworth Agency (EDA) Elise Dillsworth Robert Antoni, Roy Heath (estate), Anthony Joseph, Irenosen Okojie, Yewande Omotoso, Courtney Pine, Noo Saro-Wiwa http://elisedillsworthagency.com/ Based in London, Elise Dillsworth Agency represents literary and general fiction and non-fiction, with an aim to reflect writing that is international.[43][44]
2013 Collective Talent Steven Russell (director, agent) www.collectivetalent.co.uk Collective Talent represents screenwriters, directors, book and graphic novel rights.
2013 Rocking Chair Books Literary Agency Samar Hammam (director & literary agent) Warsan Shire, Lakambini Sitoy www.rockingchairbooks.com Dedicated to original page-turning books.
2014[45] Greyhound Literary Agents Charlie Campbell, Sam Edenborough SJ Bennett, Edward Brooke-Hitching, Rebecca Front, Maisie Hill, Will Hill, Julian Gough, Lias Saoudi www.greyhoundliterary.co.uk Founded as Kingsford Campbell, the agency became Greyhound Literary Agents in 2022.[46] Based in London and represents a range of fiction, non-fiction and children's books.
2014 Skylark Literary Amber Caraveo, Joanna Moult http://www.skylark-literary.com Specialist Children's and YA Literary Agency
2016 Pew Literary Patrick Walsh (founder) Tom Holland, Andrea Wulf https://www.pewliterary.com/ Founded by Patrick Walsh, previously of "Conville & Walsh" agency, which was sold to Curtis Brown and then renamed "C+W Agency".[47]
2016 Golden Quill UK John Grout Victoria Ewart https://goldenquilliterary.co.uk/ Located in UK, US and Spain. Represented Fiction and Nonfiction books.
2016 Blue Boar Books www.blueboarbooks.yolasite.com Children's, YA and Adult Fiction/Non-Fiction Literary Agents
2016 Outlaw Agents UK Sam Bellis, Tom Edwards Adam Manuel, Danny Martin http://www.outlawagentsuk.com UK Screenwriting Agent specialising in Film, TV, Video Games and viral campaign industries.
2017 Tin-Can Telephone Literary Agency Cassian Hall http://tctliteraryagency.com Literary Agency based in Edinburgh, UK. Representing adult fiction, children's and YA. Breaking new ground by building a writers community around the agency.
2017 The Ruppin Agency Jonathan Ruppin http://www.ruppinagency.com London-based literary agency set up by former bookseller, handling fiction and non-fiction for adult market; particularly keen to find voices from unrepresented communities.
2017 The Good Literary Agency[48] Joy Francis https://www.thegoodliteraryagency.org Only represents writers from a background under-represented in UK publishing, including writers of colour, working-class, disability, LGBTQ+.
2020 Exprimez Literary Agency Matthew Smith Philip Norman, Jenny Boyd www.exprimez.com Representing UK authors including film/television and translation rights.
2020 Laxfield Literary Associates Emma Shercliff[49] Brian Chikwava, Idza Luhumyo, Olumide Popoola, Tom Shakespeare https://laxfieldliterary.com/ Represents authors in Norfolk and Suffolk, and writers from under-represented backgrounds, with a particular interest in working with authors based in Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine.
2020 Riviera Artists Agency Justin Jones, Gemma Harris www.rivieraartistsagency.com London - Miami - Monaco. Representing screenwriters, authors and motion picture/television talent.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "AP Watt". United Agents. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  2. ^ Charlotte Williams, "Trewin made literary head at WME", The Bookseller, 18 June 2012.
  3. ^ a b Writers' Copyright Association, Directory of Literary Agents.
  4. ^ Johnson & Alcock, Agents Archived 4 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ Lucy Hancock, LinkedIn.com.
  6. ^ Sonia Land, LinkedIn.com.
  7. ^ Sheil Land Associates, Authors A–E.
  8. ^ Sheil Land Associates, Authors F–L.
  9. ^ Sheil Land Associates, Authors M–R.
  10. ^ ”Sheil Land Associates Ltd” Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook 2016 (London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016).
  11. ^ Greene & Heaton, About Us - The Agency Archived 11 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ Greene & Heaton, About Us - Carol Heaton Archived 30 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ^ a b About, Janklow & Nesbit (UK).
  14. ^ Janklow & Nesbit (UK), People - Claire Conrad.
  15. ^ Sathnam Sanghera, Agent Provocateur Archived 2010-12-07 at the Wayback Machine, The Financial Times, 29 January 2002.
  16. ^ Mandy, Independent Talent Group.
  17. ^ Sanghera, Agent Provocateur Archived 2010-12-07 at the Wayback Machine.
  18. ^ a b Wendy Mitchell, "London agency ICM changes name to Independent", Screen Daily, 31 August 2007.
  19. ^ Ed Victor Literary Agency, Welcome Archived 2018-01-11 at the Wayback Machine.
  20. ^ "Ed Victor Ltd". www.edvictor.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  21. ^ "About Us". Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency.
  22. ^ Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency, Darley Anderson - Proprietor Archived 24 November 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  23. ^ DGA, About DGA.
  24. ^ a b "LAW Literary Agents London – Lucas Alexander Whitley Literary Agency". lawagency.co.uk.
  25. ^ "Literary Agents", Ragged.
  26. ^ "Agents", LAW.
  27. ^ a b "AGA Literary Agents – Annette Green Authors' Agency". annettegreenagency.co.uk.
  28. ^ The Flamingo Book of New French Writing, "No Brie, but lots of ecstasy by Helen Stevenson", Independent, 14 July 1999.
  29. ^ 50 Years of Writing About Black Britain, "Hot writing in a cold climate’ by Tony Gould", The Spectator, 23 May 1998.
  30. ^ Independent voices,[1], Bookanista, 6 September 2018
  31. ^ Bodleian Libraries, [2], Bodleian Libraries Archive, BookBlast.
  32. ^ Conville and Walsh FAQ
  33. ^ "Jake Smith-Bosanquet appointed to board", Conville and Walsh.
  34. ^ a b "About Us", Jenny Brown Associates.
  35. ^ Joel Rickett, Flying a United flag, The Bookseller, 3 April 2008.
  36. ^ "Frankfurt Book Fair 2013: HC Wins Self-Published Novel In Major Buy". Publishers Weekly. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  37. ^ "Writers House UK closes".
  38. ^ Madeleine Milburn, "Why Choose Our Literary agency", Madeleine Milburn Ltd.
  39. ^ Coen and O'Halloran join Madeleine Milburn, The Bookseller.
  40. ^ Seven-figure deal for debut writer, The Bookseller.
  41. ^ Allen, Katie (14 June 2012). "Hardman & Swainson Launch New Agency". The Bookseller.
  42. ^ Ferguson joins Hardman & Swainson, The Bookseller.
  43. ^ "Elise Dillsworth". David Higham Associates.
  44. ^ "Submissions". elise Dillsworth Literary Agency.
  45. ^ Farrington, Joshua. "Kingsford and Campbell launch new literary and marketing agency | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  46. ^ "The Bookseller". The Bookseller. Retrieved 2024-01-31.
  47. ^ Campbell, Lisa (13 June 2016). "Patrick Walsh goes solo with new agency". The Bookseller.
  48. ^ Cowdrey, Katherine (20 December 2017). "The Good Agency secures ACE grant worth half a million | The Bookseller". www.thebookseller.com. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  49. ^ Lett, Danielle (1 October 2020). "Could this new Suffolk agency help you publish your first book?". East Anglian Daily Times.
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