Margaret Busby, a writer and editor, has shared memories and paid tribute to Bonnie Greer, the writer and cultural commentator who died aged 77. Busby described Greer as embodying courage, humour, principle, and generosity.
Busby first encountered Greer's work through her 1994 debut novel, Hanging by Her Teeth, which she endorsed. Greer's life journey began in the West Side of Chicago and led her to London, where she navigated areas such as Holland Park and Soho.
Greer's activism was intertwined with her creativity. She was known for her sociable nature and organised gatherings, including one at the House of Commons. Her career encompassed roles as a public intellectual, television pundit, dramatist, librettist, and academic.
She contributed her expertise to various national cultural institutions, serving on the boards of the British Museum, the Royal Opera House, and the London Film School. She was also vice president of the Shaw Society and chancellor of Kingston University London. Lonnie Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, also reflected on Greer's impact, stating she was "generous with her time, with her contacts and with her friendship."