Martyn Goff

Martyn Goff, CBE (7 June 1923 – 25 March 2015)[1] was a British literary administrator, author, and bookseller. He made a significant contribution to the organisation and popularity of the Booker Prize for many years, and was involved in efforts to increase literacy and book ownership, particularly among children.

For the Royal Navy chaplain, see Martyn Gough (chaplain).

Background

Born in 1923, he grew up in Hampstead, London. His father, Jacob Gulkov, was a Russian fur dealer who had emigrated to Britain and became a supplier to department stores.[2] After studying at Clifton College[1] in Bristol, he won a place at Oxford University to study English.[1] Goff was demobilised in 1946.[3]

Personal life and honours

Goff is said to have acquired, and relished, a reputation as a dandy.[1] His partner, Rubio Tapani Lindroos, a Finnish poet who moved to London in 1970, died in 2014.[1][3]

Goff was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1977 and promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2005.[1] In 2003, Oxford Brookes University awarded him an honorary doctorate.[4]

References
  1. "Martyn Goff, Obituary". The Times. 27 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  2. "Martyn Goff: Author Biography". Valancourt Books. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  3. Trewin, Ion (27 March 2015). "Martyn Goff, Obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  4. "Martyn Goff dies". The Bookseller. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
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