Michael Korda

Michael Korda – Life, Career, and Notable Works

Michael Korda (born October 8, 1933) is an English-born writer, editor, and novelist, former or-in-Chief at Simon & Schuster. Explore his life, literary works, publishing influence, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Michael Korda is a prominent figure in the modern publishing world: a writer whose novels, memoirs, and historical works have drawn wide readership, and a long-time editor who shaped the careers of others. Born in England but spending much of his life in the U.S., Korda has bridged cultural and literary worlds. His life reflects both the art of storytelling and the business of books.

Early Life and Family

Michael Korda was born on October 8, 1933 in London, England.

He comes from a notable creative and cinematic family. His father was Vincent Korda, a Hungarian-Jewish artist and film production designer. His mother was Gertrude Musgrove, an English actress. He is nephew to film figures Sir Alexander Korda and Zoltan Korda.

Though born in the UK, his upbringing had an international dimension: he spent part of his childhood in the United States (from about 1941 to 1946) during wartime.

For schooling, Korda studied at Institut Le Rosey, a Swiss boarding school, before reading History at Magdalen College, Oxford. He also served in the Royal Air Force on intelligence duty in Germany.

Publishing Career & orial Influence

Entry into Publishing

In 1957, Korda moved to New York and began working in the publishing world. He became an assistant editor at Simon & Schuster in 1958, reading manuscripts, evaluating new submissions, and building his understanding of the business.

Over time, Korda rose through the ranks and eventually became or-in-Chief of Simon & Schuster, a position he held for many years. He published works by many high-profile authors, spanning fiction and non-fiction, including historical works, memoirs, translations, and political writing.

In interviews, he’s noted that the editorial side stimulated his interest in writing history: though editing paid the bills, his long-standing ambition was to produce his own works.

orial Philosophy & Legacy

As an editor, Korda was known for being eclectic: he worked across genres, not restricting himself to only literary or commercial books. He balanced commercial instincts and literary value, guiding authors, shaping manuscripts, and navigating the changing terrain of publishing through decades. Under his editorial leadership, Simon & Schuster published bestsellers, literary works, histories, and biographies, contributing notably to American publishing culture.

Literary & Nonfiction Works

While Korda is best known in publishing, his writing is substantial and varied. Here are some categories and notable works:

Memoirs & Personal Reflections

• Another Life: A Memoir of Other People (1999) — Korda’s insider narrative of the publishing world, his relationships with authors, and the evolution of the industry.

• Charmed Lives: A Family Romance — a memoir reflecting on his family, especially his father and uncles.

• Country Matters — reflections on life moving from city to country and rural observations.

Novels & Fictional Works

• Queenie — a roman à clef based on his aunt, actress Merle Oberon, weaving personal, family, and Hollywood elements.

• Power! — a non-fiction work but styled with narrative and advice, focusing on getting and using power. It became a bestseller.

Historical & Biographical Works

In later years, Korda turned more toward history and biography:

• Ike: An American Hero — a biography of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

• Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia — his study of T. E. Lawrence.

• Clouds of Glory: The Life and Legend of Robert E. Lee — another biographical work.

He has also written about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 (Journey to a Revolution), and other historical subjects.

In interviews, Korda acknowledges that though publishing occupied much of his life, writing history was always a deeper passion.

Style, Themes & Influence

Style

Korda’s prose is often clear, accessible, and narrative‐driven. He tends to humanize historical figures by focusing on personal experiences, relationships, and the tensions behind public actions.

In Another Life, he writes with wit, candid recollection, and occasional gossip—delivering behind-the-scenes glimpses of the publishing world.

Themes

• Power and influence: Korda is fascinated by how individuals acquire and wield influence, whether in politics, publishing, or social networks.

• Legacy and memory: His memoirs often examine how family, reputation, and art intertwine across generations.

• Transformation and change: In his historical works, Korda explores how times of upheaval (war, revolution, social change) reshape both individuals and institutions.

• Insider perspective: In both his editorial career and his memoirs, Korda frequently offers a vantage point from within systems—as participant, mediator, observer.

Influence

• Through his editorial role, Korda shaped many authors’ careers and steered publishing trends in the U.S. for decades.

• His memoirs are often cited by those in the publishing and literary communities as instructive for understanding how publishing decisions get made, how markets change, and how authors and editors interact.

• His biographies and histories, though sometimes critiqued by academic historians for lack of deep scholarly apparatus, reach a broad general audience and introduce historical figures in vivid, dramatic terms.

Famous Quotes

Michael Korda is not known primarily for pithy aphorisms, but some remarks attributed to him include:

“I’ve always wanted to write history, and it was only the accident of going to work for a book publisher in 1958 (and the need to earn a regular paycheck) that slowed me down.”

“An ounce of hypocrisy is worth a pound of ambition.”

Given his close involvement in publishing, some of his more telling insights come from memoir passages about authors, editors, ambition, and creativity.

Lessons from Michael Korda

1. Dual paths can reinforce each other
   Korda’s editorial and writing careers informed one another: his editorial sensibilities sharpened his own writing; his writer’s instincts enriched his editing.

2. Passion can wait, but follow it eventually
   Even though he delayed full immersion in writing history, he never abandoned that aspiration and realized it later in life.

3. Insider knowledge adds depth but demands integrity
   His insider vantage allows him to offer rich detail—but it also carries responsibility for balance, fairness, and self-awareness.

4. Adapt to changing times
   Korda witnessed and navigated the transformations in publishing: consolidation, digital shifts, shifting tastes. His longevity reflects adaptability.

5. Family and identity are recurring sources of inspiration
   His memory of his family, upbringing, and creative heritage feed into his writing and thematic concerns.

Conclusion

Michael Korda is a rare figure who merged the roles of editor and author, influence broker and storyteller. Born into a world of cinema and art, he carved his own path in publishing and literature, eventually returning to his deepest love—writing history.

Whether in shaping the careers of celebrated authors or crafting his own books of memoir, fiction, and biography, Korda has left an enduring mark on 20th and 21st-century letters. His life invites us to consider how behind-the-scenes voices matter, how storytelling shapes memory, and how the worlds of business and art intersect.