He was a wit, an intellectual, a gentleman, a talent spotter and mentor to many in the book world, who could talk as cogently about classical music or the philosophy of Spinoza as about baseball and Hollywood movies. Malcolm Lester was a figure from the heroic age of Canadian letters in the last century when a new crop of publishers tried to create a distinctive publishing industry in this country.
Ms. Dennys found leading young fiction writers to promote while Mr. Lester originated books on history, politics and baseball. The books Mr. Lester was most proud of publishing reflected his commitment to social justice, which he absorbed in his youth at Toronto’s Holy Blossom Temple and later as a rabbinical student in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Lesters had long-standing connections to the movie business, since Malcolm’s grandfather George and his two brothers each owned a neighbourhood film theatre. “They were called The Nabes,” explained Malcolm’s brother, Brian Lester. “Harry Lester had the Bonita, Sam had the Doric and our grandfather owned the King theatre at College and Manning.
Malcolm studied mathematics and philosophy at University of Toronto, obtaining his BA and MA degrees before enrolling at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. While studying there he caught mononucleosis and was driven home to recover by his brother Brian. The illness gave him time to think about whether he really wanted to become a rabbi – he decided against it. What he really loved was books.