Tom Galt

Writer

  • Born: July 29, 1908
  • Birthplace: Wequetonsing, Michigan
  • Died: January 3, 1989
  • Place of death: Wellfleet, Massachusetts

Biography

Tom Galt was born in Wequetonsing, Michigan, in 1908. He was married in 1929 and attended Harvard University, where he graduated with a B.A. in 1932. He taught ethics at the Fieldston School in New York City from 1937 until 1945, when he had decided to become a writer.

His first book, Volcano, was published in 1946. Volcano was honored in 1947 as one of the best books of the year by Horn Book, a periodical about books for young people. Galt continued to publish books in the 1950’s, including his historical novelPeter Zenger, Fighter for Freedom (1951); Seven Days from Sunday (1955), a nonfiction books about the days of the week; How the United Nations Works (1947); and The Story of Peace and War (1952). Galt traveled the world extensively, spending long periods of time in Mexico, France, and India.

After the release of Seven Days from Sunday, Galt did not publish any new books for more than twenty-five years. He later translated a collection of Japanese poetry that was published in 1982 as The Little Treasure of One Hundred People, One Poem Each. Galt died in 1989 while living in Wellfleet, Massachusetts.