Douglas Blackwood - Publishing

Publishing

Blackwood left the RAF in 1945 and found the publishing business to be in a shocking state. The Blitz had destroyed millions of books as well as Blackwood's base in London and heralded a decline in the firm's fortunes. Before the war William Blackwood & Sons had been one of Britain's leading literary publishers, but in the post-war world its name and literary reputation counted for little. Blackwood was managing director of the firm and editor of Blackwoods Magazine from 1948 to 1976. Blackwoods had to deal with an increasing number of mass-production rivals and with a decline in interest in monthly literary magazines. By the 1970s Blackwoods and its magazine appeared out-of-date and failed to attract a younger generation of writers and readers. It was an achievement that the magazine survived until 1980. Blackwood retired from the editorship in 1976, being the last member of his family to edit the magazine which bore his name. He remained chairman of the publishing house until 1983.

His biographer, Trevor Royle noted that Blackwood, being shy, could appear remote or aloof, although he was considered "a kindly man who wore his learning lightly". He was most comfortable in military company and never courted literary or political society. He had little literary pretension - when a reviewer asked if he had known George Orwell at Eton - he was six years his junior there and at St Cyprian's - Blackwood replied, "Oh, Blair, yes I remember him, he had a motor-bicycle." However Blackwood's dismissive comment may have a different interpretation as he published an article in his magazine that vigorously refuted Orwell's criticisms of their prep school.

In retirement Blackwood lived in the Scottish Borders, where he enjoyed field sports and country pursuits. He died in Edinburgh.