Robert McCrum Biography
Robert McCrum is a prominent English writer and editor, celebrated for his impactful career in both publishing and journalism. He dedicated over seventeen years to senior editorial positions at Faber & Faber, and he also built a lasting relationship with The Observer.
From 1979 to 1989, McCrum held the role of editorial director at Faber & Faber, later stepping up as editor-in-chief from 1990 to 1996. After that, he joined The Observer, where he served as literary editor for more than ten years and became associate editor in May 2008.
As an author, McCrum collaborated with William Cran and Robert MacNeil on The Story of English and wrote the biography P. G. Wodehouse: A Life. He also released a novel titled Suspicion in 1997.
In acknowledgment of his literary contributions, he received an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 2011.
In August 2017, McCrum published Every Third Thought: On Life, Death and the Endgame, a contemplative piece inspired by The Tempest. This book was later adapted for BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week the following month.
Age
Robert McCrum was born on July 7, 1953, in Cambridge, England. As of 2026, he is 72 years old and proudly holds British nationality
Education
Robert McCrum was educated at Sherborne School, Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and later went to the University of Pennsylvania as a Thouron Scholar.
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Wife
Robert McCrum married Sarah Lyall, an American journalist who made her mark at The New York Times. From 1995 to 2013, Lyall called London home, working as the newspaper’s correspondent there before moving to New York with their daughters. Ultimately, Lyall and McCrum decided to part ways and got divorced.
Robert McCrum Wikipedia
Robert McCrum held the role of editorial director at Faber & Faber from 1979 to 1989, followed by serving as editor-in-chief from 1990 to 1996. Additionally, he served as the literary editor of The Observer for over a decade. In May 2008, he was appointed associate editor of The Observer.
Additionally, he co-authored “The Story of English” with William Cran and Robert MacNeil and penned “P. G. Wodehouse: A Life.” He also authored the novel “Suspicion,” which was published in 1997.
In recognition of his contributions, McCrum also received an honorary doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 2011.
His work “Every Third Thought: On Life, death, and the Endgame,” inspired by Shakespeare’s play “The Tempest,” was published in August 2017. The book was adapted and aired as BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week the subsequent month.
Robert McCrum Stroke
In July 1995, McCrum experienced a life-changing stroke, an event he later shared in his memoir, My Year Off: Recovering Life After a Stroke. At that time, he had only been married to Sarah Lyall for two months, and her diary entries are also included in the book.
After he recovered, McCrum took on the role of a patron for Different Strokes, a charity focused on helping younger stroke survivors by providing them with essential information and resources.
Robert McCrum’s The Story of English
“The Story of English” stands as the inaugural tome to narrate the complete tale of the English language. Originally complementing a significant PBS miniseries, this book offers an engaging and exhaustive account of both spoken and written English.
Furthermore, from its inception in Anglo-Saxon times some two millennia ago to the contemporary era, where English reigns as the predominant language in commerce and culture, boasting over one billion speakers worldwide.
Encompassing dialects ranging from Cockney, Scouse, and Scots to Gulla, Singlish, and Franglais. Also the latest African American slang, this sweeping chronicle of English serves as an indispensable primer for those seeking deeper insights into our shared linguistic heritage.
Robert McCrum’s Net Worth
Robert McCrum is an English writer and editor, holding senior editorial positions at Faber & Faber for over seventeen years, and has an estimated net worth of $20 million.