Remembering Esmond Harmsworth

We are deeply saddened by the death of Esmond Harmsworth on 9 April 2025.

As RAI Senior Fellow and Drue Heinz Professor of American Literature, Lloyd Pratt writes ‘Esmond’s support for bringing the best American literature has to offer to Oxford has been key to the success of the RAI’s American literature programme. This year we will mark the twentieth Esmond Harmsworth Lecture in American Arts and Letters. We have had Pulitzer Prize winners, National Book Award winners, endless shining lights of the American literary firmament join us. This has all been made possible by Esmond’s generosity and openness. He always gave us a free hand to choose authors we think represent the best America has to offer—from Marilynne Robinson to Claudia Rankine to Maggie Nelson. Esmond’s personal presence at these lectures—his quiet enthusiasm, good humour, and obvious pleasure at being in the company of such compelling writers—inflected each event with his charm and good will. Esmond’s support for fourth-year completion scholarships for DPhil (PhD) students concluding their studies has also meant that a long list of scholars owe him a debt of gratitude.’

It is testament to Esmond’s personal qualities that so many past and present members of the Institute have responded to the news of his death by sharing their memories of his kindness and encouragement of our postgraduate members, and the joy and love with which he spoke about his children. The RAI will properly remember Esmond at the 20th Esmond Harmsworth Lecture in American Arts and Letters, which will be delivered by Natasha Trethewey on 19 June. He will be much missed by everyone connected to the Institute, and we will look forward to remembering him together at the lecture that carries our friend’s name.