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The death of E.A. (Archie) Markham in Paris

April 9th, 2008 § 4 comments

We have just received the sudden and shocking news of the death of E.A. (Archie) Markham in Paris on 23rd March, Easter day.

Archie had apparently been taken to or gone to a Paris hospital where he died, it seems, of a heart attack. It was not until Monday 6th of April that news of his death was discovered by his family. As a hale 69 year old who was always on the move, no-one was too alarmed not to have heard from him for a week or two.

As publishers of Archie’s novel Marking Time, his retrospective collection of stories Taking the Drawing Room Through the Customs, and just having sent his memoir, Against the Grain, due for publication later this month, to the printers, Archie has long been a part of our life, and over the last few months a regular presence either in the office or on the phone. It was always both an education and a joy to work with him. He was generous (we still have a bottle of good St Emilion awaiting an occasion), particular (he was still emailing small alterations – which always improved the text – right up to the last time we heard from him just before Easter) and immense fun when he was in the office.

We know that there was so much more that Archie planned to write. In every way we feel deprived. There is so much more we want to say, but that needs more thought. In the meantime we send our deepest regrets to Archie’s family and know that there will be many of our friends who will share our huge shock and sense of loss.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Poynting
Peepal Tree Press

Tagged: Archie Markham, Guyana

§ 4 Responses to “The death of E.A. (Archie) Markham in Paris”

Té la mà Maria says:

April 15, 2008 at 10:21 pm

Of chance we have entered your blog and we have liked it

regard from Catalonia Spain
thank you
Mike Parsley says:

May 15, 2008 at 6:09 pm

Hi,
I didn’t know the work of Archie Markham but he sounds like having been a ‘good egg’.
As a Guyanese I should be familiar with his writing and will be looking into this in the future.
Regards,
Mike
Aysha Saeed says:

May 22, 2008 at 2:46 pm

Hi

Archie was a wonderful and inspirational man.

Having taught me and my friends Creative Writing in Sheffield, I learnt alot from him and found him to be extremely kind and a wonderful mentor.

I’m sure he will be sorely missed. My condolences go out to his family and friends.
Anna says:

February 7, 2009 at 5:12 am

Archie Markham was, without I doubt the most inspiring tutor I encountered whilst studying English at Sheffield Hallam Univeristy. He wold bring a bottle of Bolinger to our seminars, announce: “the doctor says I’m on a liquid only diet” and proceed to drink the entrie bottle throughout the course of the seminar! Predictably, discussion always went off on a tangent, but I can honestly say, I learned more from him and his unique persepctive than I ever did from the more prescriptive seminars.

I was so saddened to hear of his sudden death, which ironincally occured on my wedding anniversary.

Archie, it was an honour to know you and without your input I doubt my novel would have been half as good as it is. Thank you.