AustLit

‘Beatrice Davis had at least one great advantage over today's editors: she was able to invent her own job. When she started at A&R. in 1937 — describing herself as 'Beatrice Davis, editorial department' — she was little more than a glorified secretary and occasional proofreader. In the next forty- odd years she became known not only for burnishing the manuscripts of a huge range of authors but as a trainer of editors, a critic and, through her membership of literary committees, a taste -maker.’ (Introduction 177)