Ferdinand Mount
Encyclopedia
Sir William Robert Ferdinand Mount, 3rd Baronet (born 2 July 1939), usually known as Ferdinand Mount, is a British writer and novelist, columnist
for The Sunday Times
and commentator on politics, and Conservative Party
politician. He was head of the policy unit in 10 Downing Street
in 1982-83, during the time when Margaret Thatcher
was Prime Minister
, and wrote the 1983 Tory general election
manifesto
. He is regarded as being on the One Nation or 'wet' wing of the party.
He attended Greenways Prep School
in Wiltshire
, and was later educated at Eton College
and Christ Church, Oxford
. In 1993 he succeeded his uncle as 3rd Baronet, but he does not use the title.
For 11 years (1991-2002) he was editor of the Times Literary Supplement. He then became a regular contributor to Standpoint
magazine. He wrote for The Sunday Times
, and in 2005 joined The Daily Telegraph
as a commentator.
He has written novels, including a six-volume novel sequence
Chronicle of Modern Twilight centred on a low-key character Gus Cotton; the title alludes to the sequence A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight by Henry Williamson
, and another sequence entitled Tales of History and Imagination.
He lives in Islington
. He inherited the Mount baronetcy from his uncle William
in 1993. His son Harry Mount
is also a journalist and his cousin Mary Cameron is mother of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
David Cameron
, leader of the Conservative Party.
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
for The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
and commentator on politics, and Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He was head of the policy unit in 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
in 1982-83, during the time when Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
was Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, and wrote the 1983 Tory general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
. He is regarded as being on the One Nation or 'wet' wing of the party.
He attended Greenways Prep School
Ashton Gifford House
Ashton Gifford House is a Grade II listed building in the hamlet of Ashton Gifford, part of the civil parish of Codford in the English county of Wiltshire. The house was built during the early 19th century, following the precepts of Georgian architecture, and its estate eventually included all of...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and was later educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. In 1993 he succeeded his uncle as 3rd Baronet, but he does not use the title.
For 11 years (1991-2002) he was editor of the Times Literary Supplement. He then became a regular contributor to Standpoint
Standpoint (magazine)
Standpoint is a monthly British cultural and political magazine. Its premier issue was published at the end of May 2008 – the first launch of a major current affairs publication in the UK in more than a decade....
magazine. He wrote for The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times is a British Sunday newspaper.The Sunday Times may also refer to:*The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times *The Sunday Times...
, and in 2005 joined The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
as a commentator.
He has written novels, including a six-volume novel sequence
Novel sequence
A novel sequence is a set or series of novels which share common themes, characters, or settings, but where each novel has its own title and free-standing storyline, and can thus be read independently or out of sequence.-Definitions:...
Chronicle of Modern Twilight centred on a low-key character Gus Cotton; the title alludes to the sequence A Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight by Henry Williamson
Henry Williamson
Henry William Williamson was an English naturalist, farmer and prolific author known for his natural and social history novels. He won the Hawthornden Prize for literature in 1928 with his book Tarka the Otter....
, and another sequence entitled Tales of History and Imagination.
He lives in Islington
Islington
Islington is a neighbourhood in Greater London, England and forms the central district of the London Borough of Islington. It is a district of Inner London, spanning from Islington High Street to Highbury Fields, encompassing the area around the busy Upper Street...
. He inherited the Mount baronetcy from his uncle William
Sir William Mount, 2nd Baronet
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Malcolm Mount of Wasing Place, 2nd Baronet TD was a British Army officer, High Sheriff of Berkshire and grandfather to David Cameron, UK Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party....
in 1993. His son Harry Mount
Harry Mount
Harry Mount is a British writer, journalist, foreign policy expert and former barrister who works for Reader's Digest, The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail....
is also a journalist and his cousin Mary Cameron is mother of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
, leader of the Conservative Party.
Works
- Very Like a Whale (1967), novel
- The Theatre of Politics (1972), novel
- The Man Who Rode Ampersand (1975), novel, (Chronicle of Modern Twilight - 1)
- The Clique (1978), novel
- The Subversive Family: An Alternative History of Love and Marriage (1982)
- The Practice of Liberty (1986), novel
- The Selkirk Strip (1987), novel, (Chronicle of Modern Twilight - 2)
- Of Love and Asthma (1991), novel, (Chronicle of Modern Twilight - 3), Winner of the Hawthornden PrizeHawthornden PrizeThe Hawthornden Prize is a British literary award that was established in 1919 by Alice Warrender. Authors are awarded on the quality of their "imaginative literature" which can be written in either poetry or prose...
1992 - Communism: A Times Literary Supplement Companion (1992), editor
- The British Constitution Now: Recovery or Decline? (1992)
- The Recovery of the Constitution (Sovereignty Lectures) (1992)
- Umbrella: A Pacific Tale (1994), novel, (Tales of History and Imagination - 1)
- The Liquidator (1995), novel, (Chronicle of Modern Twilight - 4)
- Jem (and Sam): A Revenger's Tale (1999), novel, (Tales of History and Imagination - 2)
- Fairness (2001), novel, (Chronicle of Modern Twilight - 5)
- Mind the Gap: Class in Britain Now (2004)
- Heads You Win (2004), novel, (Chronicle of Modern Twilight - 6)
- Private Life 21st Century (2006)
- The Condor's Head (2007), novel
- Full Circle: How the Classical World Came Back to Us, Simon & Schuster, 2010. ISBN 9781847377982