Monday 26 July 2021

In The Spotlight: Maria Rejt

 

Name:- Maria Reijt

Job:Publishing Director at Pan Macmillain (Mantle) 

Introduction:

Maria Reijt is a publishing director with her own imprint (Mantle) at Pan MacMillian. Maria Rejt has worked with such authors as Andrea Camilleri, Willliam Ryan, Laura Shepherd-Robinson, C J Sansom and Colin Dexter.

Current Book?

Do Not Disturb: The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad by Michela Wrong. This is a devastating read but a brilliant account of why the Rwandan genocide happened and the consequences still reverberating today. Deeply shocking and intensely moving.

Favourite Book?

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S Lewis was a magical reading experience in my childhood and the memory of it remains undimmed.

Which to charcaters would you invite to dinner and why? 

I should like to invite Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya and Sonya to celebrate their inspirational resilience and the Russian soul…

How do you relax? 

Before lockdown I’d love trips to the theatre, seeing modem plays and classics. Since the theatres have stayed dark for far too long I’ve resorted to the Box Set. I watched all series of Spiral back to back as I’d missed them on first showing. Pure police procedural genius, brilliantly acted. The Paris setting is wonderful, too.

I wish I had written The Handmaid’s Tale. Margaret Atwood has given us an enduring classic that will always speak to women everywhere for as long as we have to fight for equality, freedom and justice.

What would I say to my younger self starting in publishing …

Always listen to your convictions and work hard to convince others of them. You won’t always get it right but if you publish with passion you have done your best for your authors and yourself.

How would you describe working in publishing…

It has been -and continues to be - an absolute privilege to make a living as an editor in the world of books.

Two of your favourite Oxford novels are:

Daughters of Jerusalem by Charlotte Mendelson. An academic family in North Oxford is brought brilliantly and vividly to life. I’ve recommended this novel to so many friends and colleagues and everyone so far has loved it.

The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin. Such ingenious and escapist fun!

Information about 2021 St Hilda's College Crime Fiction Weekend and how to book tickets can be found here.

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