Quartet chairman Naim Attallah dies, aged 89

Quartet Books chairman Naim Attallah has passed away at the age of 89.

Attallah died peacefully in his sleep after a short illness, the publisher announced on 4th February.

Born in Palestine in 1931, Attallah came to the UK in 1949 to study. He rose to become c.e.o. of Asprey and eventually took over Quartet in 1976.

Grace Pilkington, the publisher's publicist for 10 years, said: “The world of independent publishing will miss him greatly. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

Known for his lavish parties, alongside Quartet, he has previously owned two other imprints, the Women’s Press and Robin Clark, alongside the Literary Review and the Oldie in their early years. He was made a CBE in the 2017 New Year Honours List, for services to literature and the arts.

In a piece for the Daily Mail, Sebastian Shakespeare said of the publisher: “He was renowned for his legendary parties, for his love of beautiful women and for employing well-connected young girls, giving Nigella Lawson her first job.”