Funeral for Virago founder Carmen Callil

A funeral for Dame Carmen Callil, founder of Virago, will be held later this month. 

Callil, who in June celebrated the publisher’s 50th anniversary at the British Library with a host of former colleagues and Virago authors, died of leukaemia at home in London on the night of 17th October. Agency RCW called her “an incomparable and fiercely loyal friend who touched the hearts and lives of so many”.

Her funeral service will take place on 16th November at St Martin’s-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square. All are welcome, with guests asked to arrive at 4.30pm for a 5pm service.

Chair of Virago Lennie Goodings told The Bookseller after the news of Callil’s passing: “I am devastated that she won’t be part of the 50th celebrations next year for the imprint she loved and founded to ‘change the world’. Champion of women’s writing, outspoken critic, wonderful friend and utterly unique human being. A genius, really. She broke the rules and created Virago and changed the view of women in power and women’s writing.”

Baroness Gail Rebuck, writing on behalf of Penguin Random House, called her “the most extraordinary publisher of her generation”.