Trade pays tribute to 'razor-sharp' George Alagiah

Tributes have been paid to the “razor-sharp mind” of BBC broadcaster and author George Alagiah who has died aged 67. 

One of the longest-serving BBC journalists, Alagiah died on Monday (24th July), nine years after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. 

He was also an author of both fiction and non-fiction who spoke at many literary events such as Edinburgh International Book Festival and Noirwich Crime Festival, for which he gave the keynote lecture in 2019. 

Literary agent Maggie Hanbury, of the Hanbury Agency, told The Bookseller how she became his agent more than two decades ago: "For many years I had watched and admired George Alagiah’s reports when he was the BBC correspondent in Africa. I had decided to write to him asking if he had considered writing a memoir and if so could I represent him. One day, the phone rang and it was George, his beautiful voice travelling into my office. We arranged to meet and over coffee in my garden he appointed me as his literary agent and I was over the moon. This was the beginning of a long friendship and professional relationship. It has been one of the great pleasures of my life to represent George."

She said of his debut: "When I was starting the process of finding the right publisher for George we visited several publishers and were greeted by enthusiastic teams of people all of whom wanted to sign him. The last visit we made was to Alan Samson, publisher at Time Warner as it then was [Time Warner was sold to Hachette in 2006]. As we walked into Alan’s office he greeted George and said ‘I’ve got the title for your book – A Passage to Africa’. George and I both knew we had found our publisher." 

Like others, Hanbury believes Alagiah’s personal qualities helped his writing. "George was a fine writer, and a writer with whom the reader can easily connect. His brilliant ability to observe and understand enabled him to tell a story that was honest and humane. George’s second book, A Home from Home (Abacus), was about the experience of being an immigrant and he interviewed many, many people. Having been an immigrant himself, twice, he brought particular insight into the stories of others. It was a more controversial book, George was after the truth and he did not shy from it."

Alagiah kept in contact with Hanbury throughout his illness. "Over the last years since his diagnosis George kept in touch. He would call me and update me on his progress and the treatment he was receiving. He never once complained. He always asked how I was and we shared happy conversations about our grandchildren. Throughout he was cared for and supported by his wonderful wife Frances and their sons Adam and Matthew." 

Hanbury added: "Now that George has passed away I can reflect that I knew and worked with one of the great journalists, newsreaders and correspondents of this country. It has been an honour."

Richard Beswick, publishing director at Abacus, told The Bookseller: "George Alagiah published two books with Abacus – A Passage to Africa in 2001 and Home from Home in 2007. It won’t surprise anyone to hear that he was the ultimate professional author –  near-perfect scripts delivered scrupulously on time, followed by charismatic appearances at festivals and bookshops. What would be far more difficult now though, for someone in his position, is the way in which George did not hold back with his own views. Beneath the genuine warmth and courtesy was someone whose passion and decency shone through – whether he was writing about atrocities in Africa or his own experience of coming to the UK as a child – and still stand as a timely rebuke to those who would deny empathy to immigrant lives and experiences."

Alagiah’s debut novel, The Burning Land (Canongate, 2019) was a political crime thriller set in contemporary South Africa which followed the fight between nations for ownership of land and resources, inspired by reports he had covered as a journalist. It was described as "a gripping tale of events spinning out of control in a country struggling to redefine itself" by the Guardian and shortlisted for the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award and the Paul Torday Memorial Prize. Hannah Knowles, publishing director at Faber, worked with Alagiah when she published The Burning Land, at Canongate. “They say never work with your heroes, but George was an exception to the rule," she told The Bookseller. "He wore a lifetime of astounding achievements unbelievably lightly; always more interested in what everyone else had to say; and despite his razor-sharp mind, was never less than utterly modest and curious to learn more. He faced his illness with a staggering grace, and seemingly had endless reserves of compassion for others. Simply put, he was the best of us.”