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Michael Russell (1933 – 2020)

Michael Russell (1933 – 2020) – The man who brought J. R. Hartley to life – Publisher Michael Russell brought the mythical J. R. Hartley by writing his spoof memoirs. He was known for being witty and loved horses and fishing.

Described in The Telegraph’s obituary of him as a “publisher, wit and author,” Michael Russell is best known for writing the spoof memoirs of J. R. Hartley – the charming mythical old man of Yellow Pages advert fame in the 1980s. Bournemouth born, Oxford educated and a father of three, Russell loved horse racing and fishing and was known for his “extremely shrewd judgement as to which books would sell in shops.” His one-man company produced over 500 books by the time of his death and amongst titles that were hits were Richard Spitzy’s How We Squandered the Reich – a book that described Hitler as being “like a cross between a head waiter and a chimney sweep.”

 

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