Dalton, Robin, 1920-

Robin (Eakin) Dalton was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1920. Her childhood, recounted in her memoir, Aunts up the Cross (1965), was spent living among eccentric relatives in the Kings Cross neighborhood of Sydney during the 1920s and 1930s. She met John Spencer at the age of 18, and the couple married in 1940 but divorced shortly thereafter. In 1946, Dalton departed for London, England, where she met numerous prominent members of international society. Her involvement in these social circles led to a brief career as a journalist writing a society column for Truth newspaper and a monthly travel article for the publication Art in Australia . Her affable character and personal associations led to varied career paths, including a period as press attaché for the Thai government during the 1950s.

In 1953, she married an Irish doctor named Emmet Dalton, with whom she had two children, Lisa and Seamus. Emmett died in 1958 at age 33, after which Dalton leased her London home and lived abroad for two years in Italy and Australia. Upon returning to England, and needing a way to support herself and her two children, Dalton worked as a television performer to fill unsold air space between television programs.

Through a series of fortuitous events, Dalton began what would become a highly successful career as a literary agent. John Heyman hired Dalton in 1961 to work in his agency’s newly established literary department. Desiring different experiences and projects, Dalton went to work for John Redway and Associates, where she met and represented writer William (Bill) Fairchild, whom Dalton would later marry in 1994. Dalton enjoyed great success as a film agent during the 1970s and began working for Warren Tute. She later became an independent agent and established Robin Dalton and Associates. Through various partnerships with international agencies, Dalton represented such notable talent as Jill Bennett, Joan Collins, Margaret Drabble, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, Iris Murdoch, Edna O'Brien, Sonia Orwell, John Osborne, Anthony Page, David Storey, Ben Travers, Peter Weir, Arnold Wesker, Tennessee Williams, and many others.

After 25 years as a literary agent, Dalton established a movie production company, Dalton Films. She produced Emma’s War (1986), Madame Sousatzka (1988), Country Life (1994), and Oscar and Lucinda (1997).

In 1998, Dalton published her second book, An Incidental Memoir .

From the guide to the Robin Dalton Correspondence, 1960-2006, undated (bulk 1968-1979), (The University of Texas at Austin, Harry Ransom Center)