Martyn Goff
Martyn Goff | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 June 1923 Hampstead, London, England |
| Died | 25 March 2015 (aged 91) |
| Occupation(s) | Author, bookseller, literary administrator |
| Known for | Development and recognition of the Booker Prize; promoting literacy and book ownership |
Martyn Goff, CBE (7 June 1923 – 25 March 2015), was a distinguished British figure in the literary world, known as an author, bookseller, and literary administrator. He was instrumental in the development and widespread recognition of the Booker Prize and dedicated significant efforts to promoting literacy and encouraging book ownership, particularly among young readers.
Background
Goff was born in 1923 in Hampstead, London. His father, Jacob Gulkov—later anglicised to Gee Morton Goff—was a Russian immigrant who worked as a fur trader supplying various department stores. Martyn received his education at Clifton College in Bristol before pursuing English studies at Oxford University. He was demobilised from military service in 1946.
Personal life and honours
Renowned for his stylish persona, Goff's long-term partner was the Finnish poet Rubio Tapani Lindroos, who relocated to London in 1970 and passed away in 2014.
Goff was honoured with an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) title in 1977 and later elevated to Commander (CBE) status in 2005. Additionally, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Oxford Brookes University in 2003.