Tributes paid to 'remarkable' publisher Christine Baker

"Indefatigable" publisher Christine Baker, editor for French children’s publisher Gallimard Jeunesse, has died after 44 years in the industry.

The publisher said: “Antoine Gallimard, Hedwige Pasquet [c.e.o.] and the whole team at Gallimard Jeunesse announce with great sadness the death of their colleague, Christine Baker, on 20th April after a short illness.” 

She was described by the company as “an indefatigable and striking presence in children’s publishing on both sides of the Channel”.  

Gallimard Jeunesse added: “For 44 years she championed the best writing, the greatest authors and the finest illustrators in children’s literature: in her role as London-based editorial director for Gallimard Jeunesse, she discovered, and introduced to French readers, authors including J K Rowling, Philip Pullman, Michael Morpurgo and Julia Donaldson, and illustrators including Sir Quentin Blake and Axel Scheffler.”  

Born in Sens, France, in 1952, she studied French Literature and worked as a Parisian bookseller before arriving at The Children’s Book Centre in Kensington. She married Robin Baker, the bookshop’s manager, in 1977 and settled in London to raise their two daughters. 

She joined Gallimard Jeunesse during its launch in 1978, working with both publisher Pierre Marchand and, later, with the current c.e.o. Hedwige Pasquet.

Gallimard Jeunesse said: “Always guided by a quest for excellence and innovation, Christine tirelessly developed and expanded the Gallimard Jeunesse list, creating unique cultural diversity across both fiction and non-fiction for all ages, shaping the minds of generations of French children. Her role as a bridge between two cultures and languages, English and French, was unique and irreplaceable.

“Many of us in both the English- and French-language book industries have lost a colleague, a friend, a remarkable person, and an inspiration.”

She is survived by Baker, her daughters and five grandchildren. A funeral service will be held on 12th May at 2pm at St George’s Church, Campden Hill in west London.