March 31, 1929

Robert Lescher (March 31, 1929 to November 28 2012) was a well-known editor and literary agent. He grew up in Seattle, where his father was a court stenographer. After graduating from Wesleyan in Connecticut, Lescher was hired by Henry Holt and Company, in 1950, and made editor in chief there just a few years later. In 1965 Robert Lescher set up his own literary agency. 

His obituary said, "Mr. Lescher epitomized a kind of Old World ideal of author’s agent — courtly, literary and invisible....his reputation for aesthetic insight and painstaking attentiveness to writers made him highly sought after." Some of the writers Lescher edited or represented, include, Wolcott Gibbs, Robert Frost, Madeleine L’Engle, and Isaac Bashevis Singer as well as Calvin Trillin. As is apparent from the New York Times obituary for Robert Lescher, the source of most of our information,  an editor or literary agent is known by his clients.

Another of Mr. Lescher's clients was Tracie Hotchner, author of The Cat Bible: Everything Your Cat Expects You to Know (2007). Hotchner praised her editor ("Jessica Sindler...at Gotham...[has a] love of cats [which] must explain in some part her tireless and always cheerful support.") and "My dear agent Robert Lescher [who] was with me all the way." And the reviewers reflected the stature this book might be expected to have: "The only fully comprehensive guide to “all things feline,” are the words of the host of "Cat Chat" on Martha Stewart Living Radio.

However there are some interesting omissions from the book, such as no section on the history of the cat, and some misleading information. I point out these things since some of it is very important. The author recommends recovering a lost cat by going out at dusk to hunt for it. She also says not to write 'reward' on the lost pet poster. Neither of these points is justifiable.

Not only should you hunt for the lost pet immediately and constantly, you should go out to search in the middle of the night. Take a friend with you and drive in circles. This last point is because as the pet comes to you, you will in the car be too far along for it to catch up to you. It is very important for you to go in the dark because that is when animals are out to hunt, and also, your voice carries further in the quieter dark. Just search for the pet with a friend along with you.

The author of the Cat Bible says not to mention rewards as you advertise for tips. She says only bad people will be interested if a reward is mentioned. That is silly. First, who cares if the people are bad as long as they call you with any information. Of course you will not be meeting a stranger without a friend with you. Plus many people would be more alert if a reward was offered, and that does not mean they are not nice. You need to connect with someone who has information, not someone who is polite.

I don't know if she mentioned this in the book, but you need to make sure the species, and description on a lost poster are in BIG letters so people driving by can take it in easily.

Robert Lescher, who died in New Milford, Connecticut,  is survived by children from two marriages, a wife, and sisters.