Literary agent dies after fall

Giles Gordon died in hospital after a short illness

Edinburgh-based literary agent Giles Gordon has died in hospital.

Mr Gordon, 63, was taken to the Western General hospital with head injuries on 31 October, after a fall at his home.

He never regained consciousness and died on Friday afternoon, with his wife, the editor Maggie McKernan, by his side.

His clients included Vikram Seth, Sue Townsend, Fay Weldon and Peter Ackroyd.

Jonny Geller, managing director of the books' division at Curtis Brown, said: "His list of authors was award-winning and best-selling.

He will be a notable loss to the literary community of Scotland Scottish Arts Council spokeswoman

"He was an agent everyone took seriously.

"He was incredibly respected by journalists, novelists, historians and politicians."

Described as a "super-agent" he reportedly clinched £1.3m for the rights to Seth's next book.

He published six novels and three collections of short stories in the 1970s before establishing himself as a literary agent in London.

Mr Gordon returned to Edinburgh seven years ago and worked as a newspaper columnist, theatre reviewer and restaurant critic.

A Scottish Arts Council spokeswoman said: "We extend our deepest sympathies to Giles Gordon's family.

"He will be a notable loss to the literary community of Scotland.

"He will be missed both for his wit, his incisive knowledge of Scottish literature and the great charm with which he worked with all his authors."