Chandler estate goes to RCW and The Agency

Rogers, Coleridge and White and The Agency have been asked to represent the estate of Raymond Chandler to “reintroduce Chandler” to a new audience.

The estate was previously managed by the late Ed Victor Literary Agency director Graham C Greene, and Ed Victor himself, who died in June.

The two agencies will oversee the author’s work across publishing and all media with immediate effect.

RCW m.d Peter Straus revealed he was "determined to increase and extend" Chandler's readership. Straus said: “It is a real honour to be entrusted with the work of such a great writer. Raymond Chandler remains one of the defining writers of the Twentieth Century, he invented a style which has never been surpassed." He added: "His work has given pleasure to millions and I and my colleagues are determined to increase and extend that readership.”

Greene’s son, Alexander, director of Raymond Chandler Ltd, revealed he wanted the partnership to bring the celebrated author to new readers. He said: “Raymond Chandler's works both on the page and on the screen are imbedded in contemporary culture. In choosing Peter [Straus] and RCW and Stephen [Durbridge] and The Agency we wanted to reintroduce Chandler to an audience who perhaps recognise his style but don't immediately associate it with him or his archetypal character Philip Marlowe.”

He added: “My father Graham C Greene and his great friend Ed Victor were the helmsmen of the estate for many years and they will be sorely missed. Kit van Tulleken, Derek Johns and I could not be happier that Chandler’s legacy will be brought back into the spotlight by such an able team.”  

Greene, a former m.d of Jonathan Cape, died in October 2016. His mother, literary agent Helga Greene, had been engaged to Chandler when she died and he left her his estate. Following Victor's death, aged 78, in June, the agency was bought by Curtis Brown. 

Stephen Durbridge and Katie Haines, both partners of The Agency, will jointly represent the film and television rights, “continuing a long association with their colleagues at RCW”.

They said: “The heritage of the Chandler films to date and the pedigree of the underlying books create a multitude of opportunities for the future. It is the most exciting opportunity and it is a honour to be trusted to represent these rights.”