Naim Attallah
Naim Ibrahim Attallah CBE (Arabic: نعيم إبراهيم عطالله, 1 May 1931 – 2 February 2021)[2] was a Palestinian-British businessman and writer. He was the publisher of Quartet Books and the owner of The Women's Press. The Palestinian-born entrepreneur was described by The Guardian in 2000 as a "legendary adorer of beautiful women".[3]
Naim Attallah | |
---|---|
Born | Naim Ibrahim Attallah[1] 1 May 1931 |
Died | 2 February 2021 89) | (aged
He was born in the British Mandate of Palestine in 1931 to a Christian family. He was the owner of the publishing house Quartet Books, which was founded in 1972 by Ken Banerji, John Boothe, William Miller and Brian Thompson, and taken over by Attallah in 1976.[4] Attallah was a backer of the Literary Review and The Oldie.[5] He was also the owner of the London-based The Women's Press,[6] founded in 1977;[7] it was founded by him and Stephanie Dowrick.
His book of memoirs, Fulfilment and Betrayal: 1975–1995, was published in 2007.[8] According to Jennie Erdal's memoir Ghosting (2005),[9] she was the ghostwriter of some of his books, articles and other writings.[10]
Attallah was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to literature and the arts.[11]
Attallah died in his sleep after contracting COVID-19 on February 2, 2021.[12]
Books
- Fulfilment and Betrayal: 1975–1995, Quartet Books, 2007, ISBN 978-0704371217
- In Touch with his Roots, Quartet Books, 2006, ISBN 978-0704371187
- The Boy in England, Quartet Books, 2005, ISBN 978-0704371170
- The Old Ladies of Nazareth, London: Quartet Books, 2004, ISBN 978-0704371842
- Dialogues, Quartet Books, 2000, ISBN 978-0704371156
- Insights, Quartet Books, 1999, ISBN 978-0704371132
- In Conversation with Naim Attallah, London: Quartet Books, 1998, ISBN 978-0704380875
- A Woman a Week, Quartet Books, 1998, ISBN 978-0704380868
- Tara and Claire, Quartet Books, 1997, ISBN 978-0704371057
- Asking Questions: An Anthology of Interviews with Naim Attallah (with Charlotte Smith), 1996, ISBN 978-0704380271
- A Timeless Passion, Quartet Books, 1995, ISBN 978-0704380189
- Speaking for the Oldie, Quartet Books, 1994, ISBN 978-0704370913
- More of a Certain Age, Quartet Books, 1994, ISBN 978-0704370586
- Of a Certain Age, Quartet Books, 1993, ISBN 978-0704370289
- Singular Encounters, Quartet Books, 1992, ISBN 978-0704301665
- Women, Quartet Books, 1988, ISBN 978-0704300804
References
- "New Year's Honours list 2017" (PDF). Government of the United Kingdom. 30 December 2016. p. 12. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- Chandler, Mark (4 February 2021). "Quartet chairman Naim Attallah dies, aged 89". The Bookseller. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- "Farewell, my lovelies". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- "About", Quartet Books website.
- "Oldie celebrates and recognises its debt to Naim", London Evening Standard — Diary, 3 July 2012.
- Miranda Seymour, "But did the Medicis have as much fun?", The Telegraph, 3 May 2007.
- BookBlast PR, Media Release.
- Terence Blacker, "Lewd but likeable: the key to Naim Attallah". From The Independent, 2 May 2007.
- Erdal, Jennie (2004). Ghosting: A Memoir. Canongate Books. ISBN 1841955620.
- Susan Salter Reynolds, "A former ghost takes to the light", Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2005.
- "No. 61803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2016. p. N8.
- "Naim Attallah: The rags-to-riches life of a Palestinian in London", Arab News, 13 February 2021.
- Interview The Times. (subscription required)
External links
- "Naim Attallah Online".
- Official Quartet Books website
- Sally Weale, "Farewell, my lovelies", The Guardian, 27 November 2000 – profile of Naim Attallah.
- Portraits of Naim Attallah at the National Portrait Gallery, London