Author Terry Pratchett’s Writings Donated to Trinity by Literary Agent Colin Smythe
Posted on: 09 November 2009
Renowned publisher, Trinity graduate and honorand, Colin Smythe was accompanied by writer, Sir Terry Pratchett , on a visit to the Old Library at Trinity College Dublin to mark the occasion of a truly unique donation to the university. Mr Smythe, who first introduced the world to the written work of Terry Pratchett through the 1971 publication of The Carpet People and is Sir Terry’s literary agent, presented the College Library and the School of Languages, Literatures and Cultural Studies with a complete back-catalogue of the author’s works, in all languages published. The gift is intended to underpin research in contemporary fiction and translational studies. Terry Pratchett is the author of the famous Discworld series of 36 books (four of which are written for children), in which he created a satirical counter world to hold up a distorting mirror to our own. His work has also been translated into 33 languages.
“It’s always nice to come back to my alma mater, even after 46 years”, said Mr Smythe, “and when two honorary doctors from Trinity have an opportunity to explore the Long Room in the Old Library and add to its prestigious collection, its doubly so”.
Terry Pratchett with publisher, Colin Smythe.
Commenting on the donation Trinity’s Provost, Dr John Hegarty noted: “Trinity has links across the world in all walks of life. Our links to another world, the Discworld, were expanded last December through the addition of Sir Terry to our university’s alumni. I’m always delighted to see the success of our graduates internationally, across all generations – and Colin’s generous gift of this wonderful collection will inspire future generations of scholars for many years to come”.
About publisher, Colin Smythe
Colin Smythe graduated from Trinity College in 1963. Three years later, he started his publishing company, Colin Smythe Ltd, which specialises in Irish literature, with books by or about authors such as W.B.Yeats, Lady Gregory, J.M.Synge, George Moore, G.W. Russell (better known by his pen-name AE), Samuel Beckett, Oscar Wilde, Oliver St John Gogarty, and William Carleton, and also on subjects such as the Irish epic myths, the fairy faith, ghosts, folklore, heraldry, orders of knighthood, diplomacy, politics, trout fishing, and parapsychology. He also is agent for the literary estates of a number of Irish authors, including George Moore, Lady Gregory and Oliver St John Gogarty.
Colin met Terry Pratchett in 1968 and published Terry’s first book, The Carpet People, in 1971, to be followed by his next four books, before coming to an arrangement with Victor Gollancz for subsequent works, starting with Equal Rites. Colin has also published fantasy works by William Barnwell and Hugh Cook.
Since 1987, Colin has been acting as Terry Pratchett’s agent. This work has involved dealing with Terry’s publishers all over the world as well as film, television, drama productions, merchandising, and dealing with internet piracy.