British author and editor Emma Tennant, who was the editor of the Viking series Lives of Modern Women and in later years wrote several books that were inspired by Jane Austen's novels, including Pemberley, died January 21, the Bookseller reported. She was 79. Her many books include Burnt Diaries; Strangers: A Family Romance; Felony; A House in Corfu; Two Women of London: The Strange Case of Ms. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde; and Girlitude: A Memoir of the 50s & 60s.
Jamie Byng, publisher and managing director of Canongate, said: "It is with great sadness that we learnt today of the death of Emma Tennant, a talented and subversive writer with whom we published a number of books. Our thoughts are with her family."
Nicholas Pearson, 4th Estate Publishing director, said Tennant "devoured the classics and used them as a gateway into her own unique voice: great literature delicately retold and expanded into vivid new stories. She had so many strings to her bow--her memoirs in particular were wonderful. We are extremely proud to have published her."
Noting that she will be "greatly missed," Tennant's agency, PFD said: "We are so sad to hear the news of Emma Tennant's death. We are lucky to still be able to enjoy her legacy of wonderful books which reflect her special creative talent and her insightful understanding of Jane Austen's works."