This weeks Literary Ledger 3 to 10 October 2025

Welcome to your weekly roundup of all things books! We’re keeping it short and sweet, just five stories to keep you in the loop without overwhelming you. Think of this as your quick fix for staying connected to the book world.

I) Farewell to a Legend: Remembering Jilly Cooper

Novelist Dame Jilly Cooper, best known for her books Riders (1985) and Rivals (1988) from The Rutshire Chronicles, delighted readers with her portrayals of the scandals, sex lives, and social circles of the wealthy country set. Sadly, on 5th of October, Cooper passed away at the age of 88 years old

Rivals, her follow-up to Riders, was a triumph when it was first published in the ’80s and found a whole new generation of fans last year when it was adapted into a hit Disney TV series, starring David Tennant, Danny Dyer, and Aidan Turner. Cooper sold more than 11 million books in the UK alone, and a new season of the series is already on the horizon.

The Queen paid tribute to Dame Jilly, calling her a "legend" and a "wonderfully witty and compassionate friend." adding, "May her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs." A perfectly witty and fitting tribute, if ever there was one.

Rest in peace, Jilly Cooper.

II) Behind the Scenes of the Schoolbook Shelf

School has started not too long ago, which means a forgotten genre over the summer is hitting bookshops and baskets: the not-so-glamorous but utterly vital school textbooks and study guides! Now, we don’t expect, nor will we ever expect, to see these topping the charts. At best, An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley appears at position 229 in the overall chart for the year, which is actually a good sign. It’s consistent and reliable; it may never reach the top, but it will always have a presence. That said, there has been a noticeable decline this year compared to 2024. However, this may just be a blip, as September, accounting for roughly 12.1% of the category’s total annual performance, has seen a slight resurgence, at least in volume terms. Let’s see if this changes as the school months carry on. As we’re aware, there has been a general decline in children reading for pleasure, so is there much hope for required reading? Who knows.

III) Sudden Exit at HarperCollins UK: Redmayne Resigns

At HarperCollins UK, longtime CEO Charlie Redmayne, who had held the role for 12 years, has resigned. Kate Elton has stepped in as interim CEO, with an announcement about a permanent replacement “to be made in due course.” No reason for Redmayne’s departure has been given, either by him or by HarperCollins. The move seems startling and sudden, and it’s likely left the whole company feeling very confused. ‘Ruthless’ seems to be the word most commonly used to describe this shift, especially since neither HarperCollins nor his boss Brian Murray offered any public comment on his tenure. Redmayne himself has also remained silent. Gossip seems rife, with people speculating about what could have led to such a cold and sudden exit.

Elton joined HarperCollins UK in 2011 and, since 2023, has served as Group Managing Director for the adult commercial divisions, overseeing HarperFiction, HarperNonFiction, Avon, One More Chapter, HarperNorth, HQ, Mills & Boon, and Pavilion.

IV) HarperCollins USA and Fox Join Forces: A New Era of Storytelling

Fox Entertainment Studios and HarperCollins’ new YA-adult crossover imprint, Avon A, have announced a two-way development deal. The agreement will allow Fox to adapt Avon A titles for the screen, while giving the imprint access to original Fox stories for publication.

For context, the Avon A imprint publishes “a range of fresh, exciting, and boundary-pushing projects”, spanning genres and age groups, from romance and thrillers to enchanting fantasy. This marks the first publishing-entertainment partnership of its kind between Fox and HarperCollins, both controlled by the Murdoch family, a prominent international media dynasty currently led by Lachlan Murdoch, who oversees News Corp and Fox Corporation following a recent succession battle with his siblings.

V) Nobel Prize Winner 2025

László Krasznahorkai has won this year’s Nobel Prize in Literature. He said he was “very happy, calm and very nervous altogether.”

Krasznahorkai is known for his dystopian, melancholic novels, which have won numerous awards, including the 2019 National Book Award for Translated Literature and the 2015 International Booker Prize. Several of his works, including Satantango and The Melancholy of Resistance, have been adapted into feature films. His most recent novel, Herscht 07769 (2021), has been hailed as a major contemporary German novel for its accurate portrayal of social unrest in the country just before the pandemic.

He grew up in a middle-class Jewish family and drew inspiration from his experiences living under communism, as well as his travels.

Congratulations, László!