Freeman to leave Granta magazine

Granta magazine editor John Freeman is leaving the publication after five years, with his final day to be 15th July, following the launch of the summer issue, Travel.

Freeman has been editor of the literary journal for the past four years, after first joining Granta as American editor, and has created ten new foreign language editions of the magazine around the world. The publication will launch in Turkey and China this week, and in Portugal and Sweden next month.

Granta last week launched its fourth Best of Young British Novelists edition, with authors including Zadie Smith, Nadifa Mohamed and Ned Beauman making the list.

Freeman said: "Editing this magazine has been a joy and a privilege. I feel lucky to have worked with writers of such extraordinary talent, and colleagues so dedicated to publishing their work well."

Publisher Sigrid Rausing said: "John's energy and commitment, his wide reading, his enthusiasm and inventiveness have contributed so much to the magazine and its development over the last four years. We are sorry to see him go."

Freeman currently divides his time between London and New York, but plans to move back to New York full time after leaving Granta, where he will teach creative writing at Colombia University. He also plans to publish his second book, How to Read a Novelist.

The magazine said recruitment for a new editor will start shortly.