Robert Duane Loomis (August 24, 1926 – April 19, 2020) was an American book editor who worked at Random House from 1957 until his retirement in 2011.[2][3] He has been called "one of publishing's hall of fame editors."[4]
Many of Loomis's authors had worked with him for decades, including Maya Angelou, who wrote 31 books under his editorship, beginning with her first autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969).[2] His authors' loyalty to him, and his to them, was almost legendary. Loomis represented "the classic mold of the editor"[5] and according to Random House, he "embodied the ideal of an old-fashioned editor: understated, but uncanny; polite, but persistent".[2] As Angelou said, Loomis "knows what I hope to achieve in all my work. I don't know anybody as fierce, simply fierce, but he's as tender as he's tough."[4] He was well known as a mentor to editors and writers in all areas of the publishing industry.[2]
Loomis and author William Styron had known each other since they were both students at Duke University, where Loomis was Styron's editor at Duke's student magazine. Loomis went on to edit all of Styron's books except Lie Down in Darkness, his first novel.[4][5]
^Heilpern, John (2011-11-01), "An editor and a Gentleman", Vanity Fair.
^ abcdItalie, Hillel (2011-05-06). "Robert Loomis, Editor of Styron, Angelou, Retires". The Washington Times. Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-12-22.
^Bosman, Julie (2011-05-08), "Nurturer of Authors Is Closing the Book", The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
^ abcArnold, Martin (2001-04-12). "Making books; Familiarity Breeds Content". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
^ abcdSmith, Dinitia (2007-01-23). "A Career in Letters, 50 Years and Counting". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
^Lesley, Stahl (2004-06-09). "Morris: 'Reagan Still a Mystery'". CBS News.com. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
^. Duke Magazine. 93 (3). May–June 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-10-09. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
^Roberts, Sam (April 20, 2020). "Robert Loomis, Old-School Editor of Big-Name Books, Dies at 93". The New York Times. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
External linksedit
Peter Osnos, "Great Book Editors Are Not an Endangered Species", The Atlantic, May 24, 2011.
Dan Duray, "Bob Loomis Talks Cerf And Turf Ahead Of His Retirement", Observer, May 31, 2011.
November 16, 2023
robert, loomis, robert, duane, loomis, august, 1926, april, 2020, american, book, editor, worked, random, house, from, 1957, until, retirement, 2011, been, called, publishing, hall, fame, editors, born, 1926, august, 1926conneaut, ohio, diedapril, 2020, 2020, . Robert Duane Loomis August 24 1926 April 19 2020 was an American book editor who worked at Random House from 1957 until his retirement in 2011 2 3 He has been called one of publishing s hall of fame editors 4 Robert LoomisBorn 1926 08 24 August 24 1926Conneaut Ohio US 1 DiedApril 19 2020 2020 04 19 aged 93 Stony Brook New York USOccupationBook editorSpouseHilary MillsChildren2Many of Loomis s authors had worked with him for decades including Maya Angelou who wrote 31 books under his editorship beginning with her first autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings 1969 2 His authors loyalty to him and his to them was almost legendary Loomis represented the classic mold of the editor 5 and according to Random House he embodied the ideal of an old fashioned editor understated but uncanny polite but persistent 2 As Angelou said Loomis knows what I hope to achieve in all my work I don t know anybody as fierce simply fierce but he s as tender as he s tough 4 He was well known as a mentor to editors and writers in all areas of the publishing industry 2 Other notable authors who have been edited by Loomis include Calvin Trillin Edmund Morris who wrote Dutch the controversial 6 biography of US President Ronald Reagan Shelby Foote Jonathan Harr and anchorman Jim Lehrer He edited the Vietnam war epic A Bright Shining Lie by Neil Sheehan which won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award and in 1998 the novel he edited for Pete Dexter Paris Trout earned the National Book Award an unprecedented feat in editing 5 7 Loomis and author William Styron had known each other since they were both students at Duke University where Loomis was Styron s editor at Duke s student magazine Loomis went on to edit all of Styron s books except Lie Down in Darkness his first novel 4 5 Personal life editLoomis was married to Hilary Mills who wrote a biography about Norman Mailer He was a certified pilot 5 Loomis died on April 19 2020 in Stony Brook New York after a fall 8 References edit Heilpern John 2011 11 01 An editor and a Gentleman Vanity Fair a b c d Italie Hillel 2011 05 06 Robert Loomis Editor of Styron Angelou Retires The Washington Times Associated Press Retrieved 2011 12 22 Bosman Julie 2011 05 08 Nurturer of Authors Is Closing the Book The New York Times Retrieved 2019 12 31 a b c Arnold Martin 2001 04 12 Making books Familiarity Breeds Content The New York Times Retrieved 2007 11 12 a b c d Smith Dinitia 2007 01 23 A Career in Letters 50 Years and Counting The New York Times Retrieved 2007 11 12 Lesley Stahl 2004 06 09 Morris Reagan Still a Mystery CBS News com Retrieved 2007 11 13 Where the Written Word Reigns Duke Magazine 93 3 May June 2007 Archived from the original on 2007 10 09 Retrieved 2007 11 13 Roberts Sam April 20 2020 Robert Loomis Old School Editor of Big Name Books Dies at 93 The New York Times Retrieved April 21 2020 External links editPeter Osnos Great Book Editors Are Not an Endangered Species The Atlantic May 24 2011 Dan Duray Bob Loomis Talks Cerf And Turf Ahead Of His Retirement Observer May 31 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Loomis amp oldid 1129427831, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
