'One of a kind' editor Geoffrey Chesler dies aged 81

Geoffrey Chesler, a book editor who worked in the publishing industry for more than 50 years at companies including Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Hutchinson Publishing Group (Rider), Batsford, Pinter Publishers, Labyrinth, Carroll & Brown and more, died aged 81 on 14th July 2025 after a short illness.

He was "always fascinated by words and language", and was described as a "creative, instinctive and sympathetic editor, and injected life into hundreds of books" and as one author said: “The editing process was a dream.” 

Geoffrey Chesler was born in Cape Town and moved to Israel in 1962 at the age of 17. He started a degree in History and English at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem but mid-study, as an adventure, moved to London to attend the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Although he never became an actor, he always had dramatic flair and was known for his public speaking and use of "le mot juste". After two years in London he returned to Jerusalem to finish his degree.  

In 1972, he moved permanently to London, where his career in book publishing began. In 1984, he married Carolyn Eardley, freelance editor, and their son Benjamin was born in 1987. 

Over the course of his career, Chesler was editorial director at Labyrinth Publishers, an executive editor at Batsford, and editorial director at Carroll & Brown. In his later years, Chesler was senior editor at Kuperard Publishers, and was the founding editor of the Culture Smart! guidebook series. After initially launching the series with three books in 2003, he led the way in publishing over 100 country guides. 

Joshua Kuperard, publisher, said that beyond his professional achievements, Chesler would be remembered for “his boundless curiosity, his unshakeable belief in the power of the written word, and the quiet generosity that he extended to colleagues and writers alike… He leaves behind a legacy of books that continue to inform, entertain and inspire.”

Author Anna Shevchenko added that “it is rare to find an editor who deepens the author’s perspective so tactfully, with passion and humour,” and that “Geoffrey was that exceptional editor. His advice and warmth made working with him a joy”.

Author Russell Maddicks said: “I will never forget my first conversation with Geoffrey Chesler – it was on the phone and I was pitching him the idea of taking me on as the author of a Culture Smart! guide to Ecuador.

“He had a warm, welcoming voice and immediately began probing into the cultural nuances of Ecuador, its history and cuisine. He was almost crafting the guide and how I should approach it as we spoke, teasing out details that the general reader would find useful, unusual, enlightening and, most of all, memorable. It was just like Geoffrey, a very memorable man with a very comforting voice, and an ever-curious appetite to learn about new lands. He was a real gentleman, and a consummate professional who would bring you along with him on the often bumpy journey to the final draft and the book itself.” 

Bobby Birchall, book designer, said: “Geoffrey Chesler was a brilliant editor but, more importantly, he was a warm and lovely person to work with and spend time around. Over a period of more than 30 years, we crafted many books together. He truly cared about always producing the best book he could, never cutting corners. Every word, sentence and image mattered to him. He was endlessly curious; his extensive knowledge and anecdotes – delivered with a witty sense of humour – always kept me entertained and informed. He was one of a kind.”