Michael Mott
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Michael Charles Alston Mott (8 December 1930 – 11 October 2019) was a British-born American author. He produced eleven poetry collections, four novels and a renowned biography of
Thomas Merton Thomas Merton (January 31, 1915December 10, 1968), religious name M. Louis, was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, Christian mysticism, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion. He was a monk in the Trapp ...
.


Life and career

Mott was born in London in December 1930. His father, Eric Mott, was a solicitor and his mother, Margaret "Totts" Berger Mott, was a sculptor from
Denver, Colorado Denver ( ) is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Consolidated city and county, consolidated city and county, the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Colorado, most populous city of the U.S. state of ...
. Mott was educated in the United States and in England. After his service in the British Army, he attended
Oriel College, Oxford Oriel College () is Colleges of the University of Oxford, a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title for ...
, then art school and a year traveling in Europe and the Middle East. Mott then began his literary career taking a job in 1956 as the editor of trade journal, ''Air Freight''. Between 1956-1966, Mott also worked as the assistant editor of the literary magazine: '' ADAM International Review'', alongside editor Miron Grindea. In 1957, his first collection of poetry, ''The Cost of Living'', was published. On 6 May 1961, Mott married Margaret Watt, a fashion designer, at St. John's Wood Church, London. In 1962, as the couple welcomed twin daughters, Sophie and Amanda, Mott's first novel ''The Notebooks of Susan Berry'' was published. Reviewer Kenneth Allsop writing for the ''Daily Mail'' called the book, "a brilliant first novel." Between 1961 and 1964, Mott worked as a book editor at
Thames & Hudson Thames & Hudson (sometimes T&H for brevity) is a publisher of illustrated books in all visually creative categories: art, architecture, design, photography, fashion, film, and the performing arts. It also publishes books on archaeology, history, ...
and then as an editor at ''The Geographical Magazine'' (1964–66). During this time, his first juvenile novel, ''Master Entrick'' was published in 1964 in the UK. The book was released in 1966 in the U.S. and a full twenty years later in 1986, a second edition was released as a Dell Yearling edition. In 1966, Mott was invited to teach at
Kenyon College Kenyon College ( ) is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, United States. It was founded in 1824 by Episcopal Bishop Philander Chase. It is the oldest private instituti ...
and to be the poetry editor of ''
The Kenyon Review ''The Kenyon Review'' is a literary magazine based in Gambier, Ohio, home of Kenyon College. ''The Review'' was founded in 1939 by John Crowe Ransom, critic and professor of English at Kenyon College, who served as its editor until 1959. ''T ...
''. While at Kenyon, Mott continued to publish poetry and fiction, publishing ''Helmet and Wasps'' and ''The Blind Cross''. During the 1970s Mott and his family lived in
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
,
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
. Mott taught at
Emory University Emory University is a private university, private research university in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. It was founded in 1836 as Emory College by the Methodist Episcopal Church and named in honor of Methodist bishop John Emory. Its main campu ...
as Writer in Residence. Both Michael and Margaret, a costume designer with The Alliance Children's Theater and weaver, were active in Atlanta's budding arts scene. In 1972, he cofounded the Callanwolde Readings Program, which highlights poets and writers, with poet
Turner Cassity Allen Turner Cassity (January 12, 1929 in Jackson, Mississippi – July 26, 2009 in Atlanta) was an American poet, playwright, and short story writer. Life He was the son of Dorothy and Allen Cassity, and grew up in Jackson and Forest, Mississipp ...
. In 1974, Mott received the Governors Award in Fine Arts from then Governor
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...
. In 1978, Michael Mott was commissioned to write the authorized biography of Thomas Merton. ''The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton'' was published in 1984. The biography remained on the non-fiction
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
best-seller list for nine weeks. The book has had nine printings with 60,000 copies sold to date. Winner of a number of awards, the biography was the runner up for the Pulitzer Prize in biography in 1985. Mott was awarded a
Guggenheim Fellowship Guggenheim Fellowships are Grant (money), grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, endowed by the late Simon Guggenheim, Simon and Olga Hirsh Guggenheim. These awards are bestowed upon indiv ...
in 1979. In 1978-1979, and again in 1985-1986 Mott was Writer-in-Residence at the
College of William and Mary The College of William & Mary (abbreviated as W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1693 under a royal charter issued by King William III and Queen Mary II, it is the second-oldest instit ...
. He held a
Christopher Award The Christopher Award (established 1949) is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, films and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit". It is given by The Christophers, a Christian organizatio ...
and other awards, and had an honorary doctorate from St. Mary's College, Notre Dame. Mott's wife Margaret died of cancer in 1990. In 1992, Mott married Emma Lou Powers, he retired, Professor Emeritus, after eleven years' teaching at
Bowling Green State University Bowling Green State University (BGSU) is a Public university, public research university in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The main academic and residential campus is south of Toledo, Ohio. The university has nationally recognized progr ...
. In retirement he lived and wrote in
Williamsburg, Virginia Williamsburg is an Independent city (United States), independent city in Virginia, United States. It had a population of 15,425 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located on the Virginia Peninsula, Williamsburg is in the northern par ...
. He died in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was being cared for by his daughter Sophie.


Published works


Nonfiction

* ''The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton'', Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1984, 1986; , ; Sheldon Press, 1986 (U.K.); , .


Fiction

* ''The Notebooks of Susan Berry'', Andre Deutsch (U.K.), 1962; MacMillan Company (U.S.), 1963; Mayflower-Dell Paperbacks (U.K.), 1964. * ''Helmet and Wasps'', Andre Deutsch (U.K.), 1965; Houghton Mifflin (U.S.), 1966; Granada Paperbacks (U.K.), 1970. * ''Master Entrick'', Andre Deutsch (U.K.), 1965; Penguin Puffin (U.K.), 1969; Delacorte (U.S.), 1966; Dell Yearling (U.S.), Second Edition, 1986. * ''The Blind Cross'', Andre Deutsch (U.K.), 1969; Delacorte (U.S.), 1969.


Poetry

* ''The Cost of Living'', Adam Books, London, 1957. * ''The Tales of Idiots & New Exile'', Adam Books, London, 1961. * ''A Book of Pictures'', Outposts Publication, London, 1962. * ''Absence of Unicorns, Presence of Lions'', Little, Brown & Co., Boston, 1976. * ''Counting the Grasses'',
Anhinga Press Anhinga Press is an American, independent, literary press located in Tallahassee, Fla. The press began in 1972 as an outgrowth of the Apalachee Poetry Center, a non-profit organization promoting the reading and understanding of poetry. In 1976, f ...
, Tallahassee, FL, 1980. * ''Corday'', Beacham Publishing, Washington, D.C., 1986. (Republished in paperback by Black Buzzard Press, Falls Church, VA, 1995.) * ''Piero Di Cosimo: The World of Infinite Possibilities'', Tinhorn Press, Atlanta, 1990. * ''Taino'' (with drawings by Adrian Tri Diaz), Russell McKnight, Logan Elm Press, Columbus, OH 1992. * ''Woman and the Sea'', Selected Poems, Edited by Walton Beacham, and introduced by George Garrett, Anhinga Press, Tallahassee, FL., 1999. * ''The World of Richard Dadd'', Margie/Intuit House Press, Chesterfield, MO, 2005. , Winner of the 2004 Robert E. Lee & Ruth I. Wilson Poetry Book Award. Introduction by Dara Wier. * ''Pyder Hundred, the Natural History of Harlyn (Poems)'', Palores Publications, Redruth, Cornwall, 2013. * His poetry has also appeared in numerous journals including ''American Scholar, Georgia Review, Kenyon Review, Sewanee Review, Stand Magazine, Tar River Poetry Review, Times Literary Supplement, Verse, Visions International (where he was featured poet in several editions), Image, The Spectator'', etc.


Debate

In ''The Martyrdom of Thomas Merton,'' (2018) Hugh Turley and David Martin refute the account of Merton's death in ''The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton'' and other published biographies of Merton pointing to conspiracy theories of his death.


Awards

* Governor's Award in the Fine Arts, 1974 *
Guggenheim Fellowship Guggenheim Fellowships are Grant (money), grants that have been awarded annually since by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, endowed by the late Simon Guggenheim, Simon and Olga Hirsh Guggenheim. These awards are bestowed upon indiv ...
, 1979-80 *
Honorary An honorary position is one given as an honor, with no duties attached, and without payment. Other uses include: * Honorary Academy Award, by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, United States * Honorary Aryan, a status in Nazi Germany ...
DLitt Doctor of Letters (D.Litt., Litt.D., Latin: ' or '), also termed Doctor of Literature in some countries, is a terminal degree in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. In the United States, at universities such as Drew University, the degree ...
, St. Mary's College,
University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac (known simply as Notre Dame; ; ND) is a Private university, private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1842 by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross, a Cathol ...
, 1983 *
Christopher Award The Christopher Award (established 1949) is presented to the producers, directors, and writers of books, films and television specials that "affirm the highest values of the human spirit". It is given by The Christophers, a Christian organizatio ...
, 1984 * Ohioana Book Award, 1985 * Olscamp Research Award, Bowling Green State University, 1985 * Nancy Dasher Book Award, 1985 * Robert E. Lee & Ruth I. Wilson Poetry Book Award, 2004


Resources

The Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections, Northwestern University houses The Michael Mott Collection. This includes drafts and notes for Mott’s published and unpublished works, both poetry and prose; journals, diaries and notebooks from 1944–1988; and correspondence with his publishers and with fellow writers from 1965-1989.Collection Title: Michael Mott Collection, 1944-1989 ; Call number/identifier: Manuscript Series LIX; Repository
Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections
Evanston, Illinois.


Sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mott, Michael 1930 births 2019 deaths Alumni of Oriel College, Oxford American biographers American male poets 21st-century American novelists Bowling Green State University faculty Emory University faculty Kenyon College faculty American male novelists 20th-century English male writers British male novelists 21st-century English male writers British male poets British biographers American male biographers Writers from London 21st-century American male writers