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Obituary
Maggie Noach
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Maggie Noach
Literary agent for children's authors
Published: 29 November 2006
Margaret Irene Noach, literary agent: born London 18 August 1949; married first Andrew Delory (marriage dissolved),
second Alan Williams (one daughter); died London 17 November 2006.
Maggie Noach was the most flamboyant of literary agents; her natural place was at the centre of every social gathering she attended. Petite, stylish, amused as well as amusing, she was also a tough negotiator as well as
strongly supportive of those she represented. Expert in spotting potential in younger children's authors whom she would then encourage to grow in confidence, she enjoyed a remarkable record in coming up with eventual
prize-winners. The only child of distinguished non-observing Jewish parents, she was born in 1949. Her mother, Ilse Hellman, was an Austrian child development specialist who later trained as a psychoanalyst, working for years with Anna Freud. Intense and driven, she handed over most of the child-care to Gretel, an adored nanny whom Maggie had remained in constant touch with ever since, looking after her in turn when she was old. Maggie's Dutch father, Arnold Noach, with whom she had a closer relationship, was a much-travelled Professor of Art History at Leeds University. Growing up in Chelsea at a time when the King's Road was no more than an ordinary domestic shopping street, she was educated privately at the all-girls Francis Holland School. It was there that she picked up the drawling tones that so distinguished her speech, much to the satisfaction of her mother - who was determined that her daughter would not acquire her own heavy Viennese accent, occasionally imitated in later life by Maggie for the entertainment of friends.Aged 19 and determined to have some fun in reaction to the somewhat rarefied atmosphere in her own home, Maggie
Noach ignored university in favour of working as a secretary for A.P. Watt, London's leading literary agency. A first marriage to the photographer Andrew Delory did not last long. A second, to Alan Williams, son of the actor and
playwright Emlyn and already twice married, also ended in amicable separation. But it did produce Sophie, born when Noach was 40 and ever after that the love of her life.Along with Williams, Noach also put together her only book: The Dictionary of Disgusting Facts (1986). This title was no exaggeration, what with entries such as "Sootkin", defined as "A small mouse-shaped deposit formed in the vaginal cleft of poor women who did not wear undergarments - common until the 19th century".In 1982 Noach established her own literary agency, and soon found that her natural talent for friendship brought out the best in her writers, some of whom followed her from A.P. Watt. Her shrewd eye for talent in teenage fiction rarely let her down, with writers like David Almond, Jean Ure, Graham Marks and Linda Newbery going from one success to another.Much in evidence at the annual Bologna Children's Book Fair, she was well versed in the tricky business of auctioning off particular titles to the highest bidder, ceaselessly mediating between interested parties until a final deal was clinched. Her "wide-eyed laughter", as one observer described it, could be heard wherever she was holding court. Sometimes accompanied by one of a series of beloved small dogs, whom she would mischievously claim played an important part in selecting viable manuscripts, she was adept at mixing business with pleasure for all concerned.A great reader not only for her work, with E.F. Benson's Mapp and Lucia stories a particular favourite, Noach was also a loyal member of the Church of England. A keen canvasser at election times for the Conservative Party, she still signed a letter along with many other children's writers printed in The Guardian in 2003 opposing the war in Iraq. In 2001 she was elected Chairman of the Anthony Powell Society, which was to become another of her abiding interests.Her death came as a complete shock. She went into hospital with pains in her back but otherwise still her normal, vibrant self: and complications experienced during an operation on her spine led to massive heart failure. She leaves behind many authors who benefited from her support - particularly at a time when quality teenage fiction needs all the skilled advocacy it can get.
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Hard bargaining agent with a sense of fun
Friday December 22, 2006
The Guardian
Like all good literary agents, Maggie Noach, who has died aged 57 after a minor operation which led to heart failure, never missed a chance to promote an author or network on their behalf. Her husky telephone voice would
alert you immediately to something special that her author was doing; something that needed noticing or following up. An invitation to lunch or one of her summer parties would be an opportunity to meet her authors within the family atmosphere in which her agency was run. Her laugh was a notable feature of such events, and she always made sure her guests did too, mixing business with pleasure in the best possible way. An only child, Maggie was born in London, the daughter of Arnold Noach, professor of art history at Leeds
University, and Ilse Hellman, who had fled from Vienna to London in the 1930s, and whose work with Anna Freud helping refugee children led to her book From War Babies to Grandmothers. Because both parents were largely occupied with their work, Maggie was brought up mostly by her adored nanny, Gretel.Living in Chelsea, west London, the influence of which never left her, Maggie was educated at Francis Holland school. She decided not to go to university, choosing instead to go out to work, which she saw as being more fun. She started at the AP Watt literary agency as a secretary, as was standard practice at the time. But from the beginning she was bright, ambitious and hard working, and was quickly promoted to the rights department, where she
acquired the skills that led to her setting up her own eponymous agency in 1982.Maggie built her business around strong friendships, many of which included her beloved daughter Sophie, who accompanied her on many work trips. Although they were far less in vogue than they are now, she specialised in
children's books. Her list included David Almond, whose talent she recognised immediately in Skellig, his unusual and distinguished first novel, which won the Carnegie medal and the Whitbread children's book prize. She also represented Jean Ure, Graham Marks and Linda Newbery, and, until recently, Anthony Horowitz. Always an extrovert, Maggie was fast and fashionable. She had her own car - a Mini - as soon as possible. Driving it, she would distract other drivers by air guitaring to the Rolling Stones in traffic queues. Her heels were always high and her glasses often sparkly. She epitomised the fun side of publishing, although she was a tough negotiator when it came to her authors' contracts.Her interests outside work have been described as the most English of pursuits. She loved her church, St Mary Abbot's, Kensington, of which she was an active member, gardening and dogs. She is survived by her second husband, Alan Williams, and their Sophie
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died aged 57 complications experienced during an operation on her spine led to massive heart failure
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