British · 1938–2005
Neil Grant was a British author and editor born in King's Lynn, Norfolk, in 1938 and educated at St John's College, Cambridge. He worked as associate editor for the American People's Encyclopedia in the early 1960s before becoming a prolific writer of popular history and reference books for general and young-adult readers, publishing more than 40 titles over his career, including the Oxford Children's History of the World, A History of Theatre, and Everyday Life of the Celts. He also wrote under pseudonyms including David Mountfield, D. M. Field, and Gail Trenton. Among his popular biographical works was James Dean: In His Own Words (1991), a compilation of the actor's quotes paired with photographs and biographical narrative. Grant's writing was noted for being clear, concise, and accessible, particularly to younger audiences drawn to history through his encyclopedic and biographical titles. He died in Kingston upon Thames in 2005.