Robin Philip Hyman was a British publisher who was the chairman of Laurence King Publishing from 1991 to 2004.
Early life
Hyman was born in 1931 to Leonard and Helen Hyman. He was educated at Henley Grammar School and Christ's College, Finchley. Between 1949 and 1951, he completed his National Service in the Royal Air Force, and then studied for an undergraduate degree in English at the University of Birmingham, graduating in 1955. He was the editor of the University's student magazineMermaid for one year. Prior to University, he had spent some time working in the booksellers' business, particularly valuing the time he spent working for W.J. Bryce's bookshop in Museum Street, Bloomsbury. One of his colleagues at this time was Ivan Chambers, and Hyman later stated that he learned "more about new bookselling from Ivan Chambers than from anyone else".
Career
Publishing
Hyman began his publishing career soon after graduating in 1955, securing a position at Evans Brothers that he had found through the Employment Group of the Publishers' Association. Hyman remained with Evans Brothers for 22 years, working in various positions and rising eventually to the post of Managing Director. His first role at Evans Brothers was working on publicity for the education department, with an initial task of writing the blurb for the 1955 Year Book of Education. In 1956, he moved to the production department, of which he was made the manager the following year. In 1964, he became a Director, having also had experience of editorial work within the company. He was then made Deputy Managing Director in 1967. He served as the Managing Director between 1972 and 1977. In 1977, he became the Chairman of Bell & Hyman, remaining in this position until the company's merge with Allen & Unwin in 1986. He served as the Managing Director of the new company, Unwin Hyman, until 1988, at which point he became its Chairman and Chief Executive. Between 1991 and 2004, Hyman served as the Chairman for Laurence King Publishing.
Boards and councils
In 1975, he became involved in the work of the Publishers' Association, of which he was a member until 1992. He served in several executive positions, namely as treasurer, vice president and President.
As author
Hyman is also the author of several works, most notably the compiler of A Dictionary of Famous Quotations. He has also been the editor of other dictionaries, including the Boys' and Girls' First Dictionary, the Bell & Hyman First Colour Dictionary and the Universal Primary Dictionary. The Universal Primary Dictionary was compiled for use in Africa. Together with his wife Inge, he has also written a number of children's books, including Barnabas Ball at the Circus, Runaway James and the Night Owl, The Hippo Who Wanted To Fly, The Magical Fish, Peter's Magic Hide-and-Seek.
