John Murray Publishers

In London Mr John Murray, the publisher, sat in his house in Albermarle-street. At other times Mr Murray’s rooms were the liveliest in London –full of poets, essayists, reviewers and all the great literary men of the kingdom. But the great literary men of the kingdom had gone to the country. The rain pattered upon the window and the wind moaned in the chimney. Mr Murray heaped more coals upon the fire and then sat down at his desk to begin reading that day’s letters. He picked each letter up and held it close to his left eye (the right being quite blind and useless)."

- Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

The John Muray in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is the second John Murray to run the publishing house, which was founded by his father in 1768.

He published Byron's work, and was willing to take risks with who and what he published. His salons became the epicentre of literary London. When Byron died, Murray burned the only copy of Byron's memoirs in his office's fireplace.