Lusty, Robert, Sir, 1909-

Robert Frith Lusty was born in 1909 in Cheltenham, the only son of a banker, and educated at Sidcot School. Having shown some talent for writing he was taken on as an apprentice reporter by the Kent Messenger in 1927 but a heart problem soon forced his resignation. In 1928 he applied to several publishing firms and was taken on by Hutchinson. Here he learned his trade and in 1933 was appointed manager of the associated company Selwyn & Blount. In 1935 he left to join Michael Joseph Ltd at its foundation and rose to become Deputy Chairman by 1956 when he returned to Hutchinson as Managing Director and remained until his retirement in 1973.

A shrewd businessman, he was active in the Publishers Association and the National Book League and his memoirs reveal a delight in the varied characters that his work brought him into contact with. Robert Lusty was a Governor of the BBC from 1960-1968 and was knighted in 1969. He was married twice, first in 1939 to Joan Christie Brownlie who died in 1962 and second, in 1963, to Eileen the widow of Dennis Carroll. Robert Lusty died in 1991.