Don Congdon, one of the world’s great literary agents, died Monday at the age of 91.

In his New York Times obituary, William Grimes described the seminal moment in Congdon’s career – his discovery of Ray Bradbury when Congdon was working at the Harold Matson agency. He represented Bradbury for 53 years. “’I married Don Congdon the same month I married my wife,’” Grimes reports Bradbury in a speech. “’So I had 53 years of being spoiled by my wife and by Don Congdon. We’ve never had a fight or an argument during that time because he’s always been out on the road ahead of me clearing away the dragons and the monsters and the fakes.’” Mr. Bradbury dedicated his novel Fahrenheit 451 to Mr. Congdon.”

Congdon’s agency is now run by his son Michael.

Read Grimes’ full obituary here.

Every literary agent owes a debt of gratitude to Don Congdon, a pioneer, a role model and a legend.

Richard Curtis

Every Blogger owes a debt of gratitude to newspapers and magazines. This posting relies on original research and reporting performed by The New York Times.