Robert B Silvers, editor of New York Review of Books, dies aged 87

The much-respected literary figure, who helped champion writers from Norman Mailer to Zadie Smith, died after a short illness

Revered New York Review of Books editor Robert B Silvers, who served as founding editor of the magazine for more than 53 years, died on Monday morning.

Silvers, 87, passed away “after a short illness”, according to a statement from the Review.

Related: Robert Silvers interview: 'Someone told me Martin Scorsese might be interested in making a film about us. And he was'

When we started, our publisher said we should have a survey to find out what readers want. But Barbara [Barbara Epstein worked as co-editor with Silvers until her death in 2006] and I both said, no, we must pick the subjects and writers we believe in; we won’t take dictation. If it’s interesting, people will go on subscribing. If it’s not, they’ll say: to hell with it.

Bob Silvers gave me my first job in journalism and taught me so much about writing and thinking. I can't believe he's gone. http://pic.twitter.com/MMvmvjedKX

Bob Silvers embodied what it meant to live a life of books and ideas. For 54 years through the Review, he let so many others in on that.

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