Pat Kavanagh (agent)
Encyclopedia
Patricia Olive Kavanagh was a British literary agent
.
Kavanagh was born in 1940 in Durban
, South Africa
, where her father was a journalist. Her half-sister, Julie Kavanagh, is a ballet critic. Her half-brother, Michael O'Brien is a geologist for AngloGold Ashanti in Johannesburg. She attended the University of Cape Town
, but pursued an interest in acting. She had an uncredited, non-speaking role in Dylan Thomas
' Under Milk Wood
after coming to Britain in 1964. She did not get paid for the part, but, as she later recalled, she did "get to snog Richard Burton
". It marked the end of her acting career.
While working for J. Walter Thompson
as a copywriter, she answered an advertisement for a position as a literary agent. She was hired by "legendary agent" A. D. Peters
who taught her how to negotiate and gave her responsibility for selling serialization and newspaper rights for the agency's early group of clients, including Arthur Koestler
, S. J. Perelman
, Rebecca West
and Tom Wolfe
.
She was married to, and was the literary agent of, the writer Julian Barnes
. They lived in North London. In the 1980s, Kavanagh left Barnes for a relationship with author Jeanette Winterson
, author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
, but later returned to the marriage. Winterson is said to have used the relationship as the basis of her 1987 novel The Passion.
In 1995, in a famous incident much discussed in the British press, Kavanagh became the ex-agent of Martin Amis
, who left her after 23 years to "throw in his lot" with American agent, Andrew Wylie
, nicknamed "the Jackal", as part of an effort to get a large advance for his novel The Information
. The decision is believed to have been the cause of Barnes terminating his long-time friendship with Amis.
In 2001, Kavanagh's employer, now called Peters, Fraser & Dunlop
, was purchased by CSS Stellar, a company specializing in sports marketing. Kavanagh was one of several former employees who left the company in September 2007 to form United Agents
. All of Kavanagh's clients left to join her at the new firm.
She died of a brain tumour on 20 October 2008.
Literary agent
A literary agent is an agent who represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers and film producers and assists in the sale and deal negotiation of the same. Literary agents most often represent novelists, screenwriters and major non-fiction writers...
.
Kavanagh was born in 1940 in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where her father was a journalist. Her half-sister, Julie Kavanagh, is a ballet critic. Her half-brother, Michael O'Brien is a geologist for AngloGold Ashanti in Johannesburg. She attended the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
, but pursued an interest in acting. She had an uncredited, non-speaking role in Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
' Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood
Under Milk Wood is a 1954 radio drama by Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, adapted later as a stage play. A movie version, Under Milk Wood directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released during 1972....
after coming to Britain in 1964. She did not get paid for the part, but, as she later recalled, she did "get to snog Richard Burton
Richard Burton
Richard Burton, CBE was a Welsh actor. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award, six of which were for Best Actor in a Leading Role , and was a recipient of BAFTA, Golden Globe and Tony Awards for Best Actor. Although never trained as an actor, Burton was, at one time, the highest-paid...
". It marked the end of her acting career.
While working for J. Walter Thompson
JWT
JWT is one of the largest advertising agencies in the United States and the fourth-largest in the world. It is one of the key companies of Sir Martin Sorrell's WPP Group and is headquartered in New York. The global agency is led by Worldwide Chairman and Global CEO Bob Jeffrey who took over the...
as a copywriter, she answered an advertisement for a position as a literary agent. She was hired by "legendary agent" A. D. Peters
A. D. Peters
Augustus Dudley Peters was a British literary and talent agent, and a film producer.His agency merged with Fraser and Dunlop Agency to produce Peters, Fraser & Dunlop, which in 1999 became PFD, with offices in London and New York...
who taught her how to negotiate and gave her responsibility for selling serialization and newspaper rights for the agency's early group of clients, including Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler
Arthur Koestler CBE was a Hungarian author and journalist. Koestler was born in Budapest and, apart from his early school years, was educated in Austria...
, S. J. Perelman
S. J. Perelman
Sidney Joseph Perelman, almost always known as S. J. Perelman , was an American humorist, author, and screenwriter. He is best known for his humorous short pieces written over many years for The New Yorker...
, Rebecca West
Rebecca West
Cicely Isabel Fairfield , known by her pen name Rebecca West, or Dame Rebecca West, DBE was an English author, journalist, literary critic and travel writer. A prolific, protean author who wrote in many genres, West was committed to feminist and liberal principles and was one of the foremost public...
and Tom Wolfe
Tom Wolfe
Thomas Kennerly "Tom" Wolfe, Jr. is a best-selling American author and journalist. He is one of the founders of the New Journalism movement of the 1960s and 1970s.-Early life and education:...
.
She was married to, and was the literary agent of, the writer Julian Barnes
Julian Barnes
Julian Patrick Barnes is a contemporary English writer, and winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize, for his book The Sense of an Ending...
. They lived in North London. In the 1980s, Kavanagh left Barnes for a relationship with author Jeanette Winterson
Jeanette Winterson
Jeanette Winterson OBE is a British novelist.-Early years:Winterson was born in Manchester and adopted on 21 January 1960. She was raised in Accrington, Lancashire, by Constance and John William Winterson...
, author of Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is a novel by Jeanette Winterson published in 1985, which she subsequently adapted into a BBC television drama...
, but later returned to the marriage. Winterson is said to have used the relationship as the basis of her 1987 novel The Passion.
In 1995, in a famous incident much discussed in the British press, Kavanagh became the ex-agent of Martin Amis
Martin Amis
Martin Louis Amis is a British novelist, the author of many novels including Money and London Fields . He is currently Professor of Creative Writing at the Centre for New Writing at the University of Manchester, but will step down at the end of the 2010/11 academic year...
, who left her after 23 years to "throw in his lot" with American agent, Andrew Wylie
Andrew Wylie (literary agent)
-Early life:Wylie is the son of Craig Wylie, one time editor-in-chief at Houghton Mifflin. He grew up in Sudbury, Massachusetts, and attended St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, from which he was dismissed in 1965: an interview with his university alumni magazine stated that this was for...
, nicknamed "the Jackal", as part of an effort to get a large advance for his novel The Information
The Information (novel)
The Information is a 1995 novel by British writer Martin Amis. The plot involves two forty-year-old novelists, Gwyn Barry and Richard Tull . Amis has asserted that both characters are based on himself...
. The decision is believed to have been the cause of Barnes terminating his long-time friendship with Amis.
In 2001, Kavanagh's employer, now called Peters, Fraser & Dunlop
Peters, Fraser & Dunlop
Peters Fraser and Dunlop is a talent and literary agency based in London, England. One of the oldest agencies in Britain, and a co-founder of the Association of Authors' Agents, it is home to a distinguished and varied client list, including Simon Schama, William Hague, Sarah Raven, Twiggy, Sir...
, was purchased by CSS Stellar, a company specializing in sports marketing. Kavanagh was one of several former employees who left the company in September 2007 to form United Agents
United Agents
United Agents is a British talent and literary agency founded in 2007. It is situated on Lexington Street in London, UK and was set up by agents who had left Peters, Fraser & Dunlop . It is chaired by Lindy King and the managing director is St...
. All of Kavanagh's clients left to join her at the new firm.
She died of a brain tumour on 20 October 2008.
Clients
Among her famous and varied clients were:- Sally BeaumanSally BeaumanSally Beauman is a British author best known for her Rebecca sequel, Rebecca's Tale.She was educated at Redland High School and Girton College, Cambridge....
- Dirk BogardeDirk BogardeSir Dirk Bogarde was an English actor and novelist. Initially a matinee idol in such films as Doctor in the House and other Rank Organisation pictures, Bogarde later acted in art-house films such as Death in Venice...
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- Peter ConradPeter ConradPeter Conrad may refer to:* Pete Conrad , United States astronaut* Peter Conrad , Australian academic long resident in the United Kingdom...
- Wendy CopeWendy CopeWendy Cope, OBE is an award-winning contemporary English poet. She read history at St Hilda's College, Oxford. She now lives in Ely with the poet Lachlan Mackinnon.-Biography:...
- Russell DaviesRussell DaviesRobert Russell Davies , known as Russell Davies, is a British journalist and broadcaster. He presents a Sunday radio programme on BBC Radio 2 which spotlights popular song, as well as Brain of Britain on Radio 4.-Background:...
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- Douglas DunnDouglas DunnDouglas Eaglesham Dunn, OBE is a Scottish poet, academic, and critic. He currently lives in Scotland.-Background:Dunn was born in Inchinnan, Renfrewshire. He was educated at the Scottish School of Librarianship, and worked as a librarian before he started his studies in Hull...
- James FentonJames FentonJames Martin Fenton is an English poet, journalist and literary critic. He is a former Oxford Professor of Poetry.-Life and career:...
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- Nicci FrenchNicci FrenchNicci French is the pseudonym of English husband-and-wife team Nicci Gerrard and Sean French, who write psychological thrillers together.-Personal life:...
- John FullerJohn FullerJohn Fuller may refer to:* John Fuller , Master of Jesus College, Cambridge* John Fuller , British Member of Parliament for Sussex, 1713–1715...
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- Arthur KoestlerArthur KoestlerArthur Koestler CBE was a Hungarian author and journalist. Koestler was born in Budapest and, apart from his early school years, was educated in Austria...
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