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The Christopher Little Literary Agency was a literary agency based in London. It closed in 2021 following the death of its founder, Christopher Little. Its clients have included J. K. Rowling, Darren Shan, A. J. Quinnell, Pip Vaughan Hughes, Philip Kazan, Pippa Mattinson, Cathy Hopkins, Robert Mawson, Robert Radcliffe, and Wladyslaw Szpilman.[1] The agency managed Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling from 1995 until 2011.[2]
History
editChristopher Little
editChristopher John Little was born in York in 1941 and grew up in Liversedge.[3] He began a recruitment agency in the 1970s when looking for work in the United Kingdom after returning from a financial career abroad.[1] In 1979, he sold his first novel, Man on Fire, written by his friend Phillip Nicholson under the pseudonym A. J. Quinnell. He then established the Christopher Little Literary Agency. Though he considered it only a hobby at first, the recruitment firm grew to represent 20 authors by the time of its sale in 1992.[1]
Little died from cancer on the 7th of January, 2021, at age 79.[3][4] The Christopher Little Literary Agency permanently closed after his death.[5]
J. K. Rowling
editLittle's most notable career milestone came in 1995 when he received a manuscript from an aspiring author, J.K. Rowling. As she reviewed a list of literary agents, she saw the name "Christopher Little" and sent him the first three chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.[6] Little responded four days later requesting the balance of the book. Every major UK publisher turned the book down, but a small publishing company had just opened a children’s department called Bloomsbury Publishing. They bought UK Commonwealth publication rights in 1996 for one book for £2,500. Following positive reviews and growing interest, the U.S. rights were sold at auction for a six-figure sum. Foreign language publication rights were subsequently sold in over 80 languages.[1] By July 2007, he was estimated to have received at least £50m from the franchise. Little was called 'the luckiest agent ever' and was credited with turning Rowling into a 'literary superstar'.[7] The pair have been described as being "the most commercially successful relationship in literary history".[8]
Eventually, J.K Rowling parted ways with Little when she joined Little's former business partner, Neil Blair, as he set up his own agency. This prompted Little to consider legal action against Rowling, however, the dispute was resolved in a friendly manner, with the settlement terms remaining confidential.[8]
Other authors
editThe Christopher Little Literary Agency has represented numerous authors, mainly in commercial fiction, including Anne Zouroudi, Erin Kinsley, and Janet Gleeson.[9] It has also represented people and their autobiographies, including Madeleine by Kate McCann and Soldier by General Sir Mike Jackson.[10]Little secured numerous film deals for his clients, most prominently Man on Fire (A J Quinnell), The Lazarus Child (Robert Mawson), The Pianist (Wladyslaw Szpilman), The Vampire’s Assistant (Darren Shan) and the Harry Potter films (J K Rowling).[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "About The agency - Christopher Little". Christopher Little. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ Risen, Clay (27 January 2021). "Christopher Little, Who Built an Empire Around a Boy Wizard, Dies at 79". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ a b Christopher Little, Who Built an Empire Around a Boy Wizard, Dies at 79. New York Times, 27 January 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Chandler, Mark. "Agent Christopher Little dies, aged 79". The Bookseller. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "About the Agency". Christopher Little Literary Agency LLP. Retrieved 22 December 2024.
- ^ Hastings, Chris; Bisset, Susan (15 June 2003). "Literary agent made £15m because JK Rowling liked his name". The Telegraph. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ Sharp, Rob (3 July 2011). "Harry Potter and the furious feud: Rowling banishes her literary agent". The Independent. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ a b Walker, Tim (25 January 2012). "Harry Potter author JK Rowling pays off the man who conjured up her millions". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
- ^ "Christopher Little obituary". www.thetimes.com. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Christopher Little". Agent Hunter. Retrieved 24 March 2018.