Background
He was born in 1928 in Tempsford, Bedfordshire. He grew up in Falmouth, where he attended the Grammar School and, under the advice of his headmaster, sat the scholarship exam for Cambridge.
He was born in 1928 in Tempsford, Bedfordshire. He grew up in Falmouth, where he attended the Grammar School and, under the advice of his headmaster, sat the scholarship exam for Cambridge.
He graduated with a first in Modern Languages and English in 1951.
He was awarded a minor scholarship to Jesus College, Cambridge. After military service in Austria, he was appointed Assistant Secretary in September 1951. From 1965 until 1978 he held the role of Chief Editor, and from that time until his retirement in 1987, he held the title of University Publisher.
Throughout his career Black"s special interest was in developing the Press"s English literature list.
He was also editor of The Cambridge Quarterly. He is a fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge.