Mark Van Doren (1984-1972)

Pulitzer Prize winning American poet and author. Born in Illinois in 1894. Graduated from the University of Illinois and then joined the faculty of Columbia University, following in the footsteps of his older brother Carl van Doren, a noted academic and author. However, he was soon to eclipse even his well-known brother, becoming one of the University's most influential professors, as well as an award winning author (mainly of non-fiction) and poetry. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 for his Collected Poems.

His son, Charles Van Doren, also achieved notoriety as the winner of the rigged quiz show Twenty One, and was the subject of the 1994 film Quiz Show, in which Ralph Fiennes played Charles and Paul Scofield, Mark.

Although best known as a celebrated academic, Mark Van Doren had lighter moments: he wrote two charming stories for younger children forming a short series about a pair of ponies called Dick and Tom. As far as I know these were the only equine-related works he wrote.

There is a lot of information about the author on the internet and elsewhere. He also wrote an autobiography.

Dick and Tom Series:

1) DICK AND TOM: TALES OF TWO PONIES
(MACMILLAN [USA] 1931)
ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE RICHARDS & MARGARET VAN DOREN
Reprinted in hardback a couple of times by original publisher.
SUMMARY: Charlie's father tells him about the ponies he and his brother owned when they were young.

2) DICK AND TOM IN TOWN
(MACMILLAN [USA] 1932)
ILLUSTRATED BY GEORGE RICHARDS & MARGARET VAN DOREN

Collector's Info:
I don't think these were ever published outside of America. In the USA, the first book is a lot easier to find than its sequel. Neither are usually very cheap and the second book can be quite expensive. Both books are hard to find elsewhere.

Books about the author:

THE AUTOBIOGARPHY OF MARK VAN DOREN
(HARCOURT, BRACE & CO [USA] 1958)
Reprinted in hardback more than once by original publisher, also by Greenwood in 1968.
SUMMARY: Autobiography written by the author.

Collector's Info:
Easy to find in the USA. Can be hard to find and/or quite expensive elsewhere.