Father: Albert Russel Erskine (1886-1966)
Mother: Nell (Craig) Campbell (1890-1969)
Spouse: Katherine Anne (1890-1980) m. 19 Apr 1938 in New Orleans, LA ( divorced in 1942)
Spouse 2: Marisa (Bisi) Erskine (1923-)
Daughter: Silvia (Erskine) Radulski Mrs. David Robert Radulski
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albert R. Erskine, 81, an Editor For Faulkner and Other Authors
By Bruce Lambert
The New York Times
February 5, 1993, Section A, Page 18
Albert Russel Erskine Jr., a retired Random House editor who worked with James A. Michener, William Faulkner, John O'Hara and Robert Penn Warren, died on Wednesday at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Conn. He was 81 and lived in Westport, Conn.
His family said he had had a long illness.
In his long publishing career, Mr. Erskine worked as a top executive at Random House under the company's founder, Bennett Cerf.
Among the dozens of books Mr. Erskine edited were numerous best sellers by many of the nation's most acclaimed writers. His reputation grew for his broad literary advice in developing a book as well as for his careful word-by-word editing.
"His authors trusted him absolutely," said Jason Epstein, the vice president and editorial director of Random House. "Faulkner was devoted to him. They thought of Albert as their ally. He was one of the great editors of his time."
Eudora Welty said of Mr. Erskine, "He did a very great deal for my work. I remember on my novel 'Losing Battles,' he had me out to his house as a guest, eating wonderful food and having a lovely time, and every day we went to his desk and went over this long manuscript, line by line."
Despite his roster of celebrity authors, many other writers were unknown when Mr. Erskine took them under his wing.
He was instrumental in editing and publishing Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" in 1952. He also nurtured Malcolm Lowry's "Under the Volcano" and was quick to identify and promote Cormac McCarthy's first novel, "The Orchard Keeper," as a talented work. Born in Memphis
A native of Memphis, Mr. Erskine graduated from Southwestern College (now Rhodes College) in Memphis in 1932 and earned a master's degree at Vanderbilt in 1939.
In the 1930's, he taught English at Louisiana State University, was an associate editor of the Louisiana University Press and joined with Robert Penn Warren and others in founding The Southern Review of Literature.
Mr. Erskine was an editor at Random House from 1947 until 1955. He was promoted to managing editor, serving in that position from 1955 until 1959, and became vice president and editorial director in 1959. After retiring in 1987, he continued with part-time editing.
His marriage to Katherine Anne Porter ended in divorce.
Mr. Erskine is survived by his wife of 33 years, the former Marisa Bisi, and a daughter, Silvia Erskine Radulski of Westport,
Mother: Nell (Craig) Campbell (1890-1969)
Spouse: Katherine Anne (1890-1980) m. 19 Apr 1938 in New Orleans, LA ( divorced in 1942)
Spouse 2: Marisa (Bisi) Erskine (1923-)
Daughter: Silvia (Erskine) Radulski Mrs. David Robert Radulski
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albert R. Erskine, 81, an Editor For Faulkner and Other Authors
By Bruce Lambert
The New York Times
February 5, 1993, Section A, Page 18
Albert Russel Erskine Jr., a retired Random House editor who worked with James A. Michener, William Faulkner, John O'Hara and Robert Penn Warren, died on Wednesday at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Conn. He was 81 and lived in Westport, Conn.
His family said he had had a long illness.
In his long publishing career, Mr. Erskine worked as a top executive at Random House under the company's founder, Bennett Cerf.
Among the dozens of books Mr. Erskine edited were numerous best sellers by many of the nation's most acclaimed writers. His reputation grew for his broad literary advice in developing a book as well as for his careful word-by-word editing.
"His authors trusted him absolutely," said Jason Epstein, the vice president and editorial director of Random House. "Faulkner was devoted to him. They thought of Albert as their ally. He was one of the great editors of his time."
Eudora Welty said of Mr. Erskine, "He did a very great deal for my work. I remember on my novel 'Losing Battles,' he had me out to his house as a guest, eating wonderful food and having a lovely time, and every day we went to his desk and went over this long manuscript, line by line."
Despite his roster of celebrity authors, many other writers were unknown when Mr. Erskine took them under his wing.
He was instrumental in editing and publishing Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" in 1952. He also nurtured Malcolm Lowry's "Under the Volcano" and was quick to identify and promote Cormac McCarthy's first novel, "The Orchard Keeper," as a talented work. Born in Memphis
A native of Memphis, Mr. Erskine graduated from Southwestern College (now Rhodes College) in Memphis in 1932 and earned a master's degree at Vanderbilt in 1939.
In the 1930's, he taught English at Louisiana State University, was an associate editor of the Louisiana University Press and joined with Robert Penn Warren and others in founding The Southern Review of Literature.
Mr. Erskine was an editor at Random House from 1947 until 1955. He was promoted to managing editor, serving in that position from 1955 until 1959, and became vice president and editorial director in 1959. After retiring in 1987, he continued with part-time editing.
His marriage to Katherine Anne Porter ended in divorce.
Mr. Erskine is survived by his wife of 33 years, the former Marisa Bisi, and a daughter, Silvia Erskine Radulski of Westport,
Father: Albert Russel Erskine (1886-1966)
Mother: Nell (Craig) Campbell (1890-1969)
Spouse: Katherine Anne (1890-1980) m. 19 Apr 1938 in New Orleans, LA ( divorced in 1942)
Spouse 2: Marisa (Bisi) Erskine (1923-)
Daughter: Silvia (Erskine) Radulski Mrs. David Robert Radulski
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albert R. Erskine, 81, an Editor For Faulkner and Other Authors
By Bruce Lambert
The New York Times
February 5, 1993, Section A, Page 18
Albert Russel Erskine Jr., a retired Random House editor who worked with James A. Michener, William Faulkner, John O'Hara and Robert Penn Warren, died on Wednesday at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Conn. He was 81 and lived in Westport, Conn.
His family said he had had a long illness.
In his long publishing career, Mr. Erskine worked as a top executive at Random House under the company's founder, Bennett Cerf.
Among the dozens of books Mr. Erskine edited were numerous best sellers by many of the nation's most acclaimed writers. His reputation grew for his broad literary advice in developing a book as well as for his careful word-by-word editing.
"His authors trusted him absolutely," said Jason Epstein, the vice president and editorial director of Random House. "Faulkner was devoted to him. They thought of Albert as their ally. He was one of the great editors of his time."
Eudora Welty said of Mr. Erskine, "He did a very great deal for my work. I remember on my novel 'Losing Battles,' he had me out to his house as a guest, eating wonderful food and having a lovely time, and every day we went to his desk and went over this long manuscript, line by line."
Despite his roster of celebrity authors, many other writers were unknown when Mr. Erskine took them under his wing.
He was instrumental in editing and publishing Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" in 1952. He also nurtured Malcolm Lowry's "Under the Volcano" and was quick to identify and promote Cormac McCarthy's first novel, "The Orchard Keeper," as a talented work. Born in Memphis
A native of Memphis, Mr. Erskine graduated from Southwestern College (now Rhodes College) in Memphis in 1932 and earned a master's degree at Vanderbilt in 1939.
In the 1930's, he taught English at Louisiana State University, was an associate editor of the Louisiana University Press and joined with Robert Penn Warren and others in founding The Southern Review of Literature.
Mr. Erskine was an editor at Random House from 1947 until 1955. He was promoted to managing editor, serving in that position from 1955 until 1959, and became vice president and editorial director in 1959. After retiring in 1987, he continued with part-time editing.
His marriage to Katherine Anne Porter ended in divorce.
Mr. Erskine is survived by his wife of 33 years, the former Marisa Bisi, and a daughter, Silvia Erskine Radulski of Westport,
Mother: Nell (Craig) Campbell (1890-1969)
Spouse: Katherine Anne (1890-1980) m. 19 Apr 1938 in New Orleans, LA ( divorced in 1942)
Spouse 2: Marisa (Bisi) Erskine (1923-)
Daughter: Silvia (Erskine) Radulski Mrs. David Robert Radulski
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albert R. Erskine, 81, an Editor For Faulkner and Other Authors
By Bruce Lambert
The New York Times
February 5, 1993, Section A, Page 18
Albert Russel Erskine Jr., a retired Random House editor who worked with James A. Michener, William Faulkner, John O'Hara and Robert Penn Warren, died on Wednesday at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Conn. He was 81 and lived in Westport, Conn.
His family said he had had a long illness.
In his long publishing career, Mr. Erskine worked as a top executive at Random House under the company's founder, Bennett Cerf.
Among the dozens of books Mr. Erskine edited were numerous best sellers by many of the nation's most acclaimed writers. His reputation grew for his broad literary advice in developing a book as well as for his careful word-by-word editing.
"His authors trusted him absolutely," said Jason Epstein, the vice president and editorial director of Random House. "Faulkner was devoted to him. They thought of Albert as their ally. He was one of the great editors of his time."
Eudora Welty said of Mr. Erskine, "He did a very great deal for my work. I remember on my novel 'Losing Battles,' he had me out to his house as a guest, eating wonderful food and having a lovely time, and every day we went to his desk and went over this long manuscript, line by line."
Despite his roster of celebrity authors, many other writers were unknown when Mr. Erskine took them under his wing.
He was instrumental in editing and publishing Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" in 1952. He also nurtured Malcolm Lowry's "Under the Volcano" and was quick to identify and promote Cormac McCarthy's first novel, "The Orchard Keeper," as a talented work. Born in Memphis
A native of Memphis, Mr. Erskine graduated from Southwestern College (now Rhodes College) in Memphis in 1932 and earned a master's degree at Vanderbilt in 1939.
In the 1930's, he taught English at Louisiana State University, was an associate editor of the Louisiana University Press and joined with Robert Penn Warren and others in founding The Southern Review of Literature.
Mr. Erskine was an editor at Random House from 1947 until 1955. He was promoted to managing editor, serving in that position from 1955 until 1959, and became vice president and editorial director in 1959. After retiring in 1987, he continued with part-time editing.
His marriage to Katherine Anne Porter ended in divorce.
Mr. Erskine is survived by his wife of 33 years, the former Marisa Bisi, and a daughter, Silvia Erskine Radulski of Westport,
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