The Antony Harwood Ltd literary agency was set up in London in 2000 by Antony Harwood and James Macdonald Lockhart and moved to Oxford in 2003.

Antony Harwood started out in publishing at Chatto & Windus in 1978, working as a Production assistant, head of the Publicity Department and Commissioning Editor. After six years at Chatto (during which time he had the privilege of working with authors such as Angela Carter, Toni Morrisson and Iris Murdoch), he moved over to agenting with Gillon Aitken. Having established his own list of authors and worked closely with Andrew Wylie, Aitken’s then associate in America, and having become a Director of the agency, Antony joined the board of the Curtis Brown Group in 1990. In 1995 he returned to work with Gillon Aitken and in 2000 decided that it was time to become an independent agent.

James Macdonald Lockhart’s first job in publishing was at Hodder Headline and he joined Gillon Aitken Associates in 1998. After two years there, he joined Antony to set up the new agency.

Our terms of business include commission at 15% on all contracts for British Commonwealth rights and 20% on all contracts for American and translation rights. Commission on all contracts for film and/or television rights is 10-15%, subject to the involvement of sub-agents and associated agencies. Full details of our terms of business are agreed with authors when they become clients.

When we sell American rights in a client’s work, we sometimes sell direct to American publishers, sometimes through an associated American agent, according to whatever is in the author’s best interests. When we sell translation rights in a client’s work, we work with co-agents in all the respective territories. A list of these agents and their contact details is provided at this link.
We also work with Sally Riley at Gillon Aitken Associates for translation rights for our clients Douglas Kennedy and Robert McLiam Wilson. Sally can be contacted at:
Gillon Aitken Associates
18-21 Cavaye Place
London SW10 9PT
Tel: 020 7373 8672
Fax: 020 7373 6002
Email Sally@gillonaitken.co.uk

When we sell film and/or television rights, again we sometimes sell direct to production companies, sometimes through an associated agent. We have a number of associated agents and sub-agents in the UK and on the West and East Coasts of America.