Booksellers pay tribute to Jill van Zyl (1936 – 2019)

Photo: John Fawcett-Peck

Trade stalwarts turned out in droves to commemorate the life of Jill van Zyl at her memorial on 4 June this year, 12 years after her retirement. Jill was revered as a custodian of knowledge during her tenure at Exclusive Books, and trained many of the prominent booksellers still in the trade. She started her career at City Books in Hillbrow in 1984, which later became the Bookworm before it was bought by Exclusive Books and moved to Sandton. She was later invited to the board and position of Literary Manager, and leaves a legendary legacy of excellence still fondly referenced by booksellers and publishers today.