Literary legends brought to life in publisher's archive

With tales of beers with John Steinbeck at his Nobel prize ceremony and signing up Roald Dahl on a transatlantic ferry, the newly opened archive of the publisher Charles Pick offers a intriguing glimpse into publishing's golden era. After he started out as an office boy for Victor Gollancz in 1933, Pick's 66-year career in publishing saw him discover, nurture and publish some of the biggest names in 20th-century literature, including JD Salinger, Graham Greene and Dahl. With a roster including Catherine Cookson, Wilbur Smith, Anita Desai and John Le Carré, Pick had an unerring eye for what the public wanted and formed close relationships with many of his authors