Alfred Nutt

Alfred Trübner Nutt (22 November 1856 – 21 May 1910) was a prominent English publisher, folklorist, and Arthurian and Celtic scholar. Born in 1856 into a literary family in London, he took over his late father's publishing business in 1878 after studying in France and extensive European business apprenticeships.

Nutt made significant contributions to the field of folklore studies, founding The Folk-Lore Journal and presiding over The Folklore Society. His scholarly pursuits included significant research on the Celtic roots of the Grail legend, collaborative efforts with fellow scholars, and involvement in founding the Irish Texts Society. Nutt drowned while attempting to rescue his disabled son from the Seine in 1910.

Biography
Alfred Trübner Nutt was born in London on 22 November 1856, the eldest, and only surviving, son of bookseller and publisher David Nutt. His mother, Ellen, was the granddaughter of another well-known publisher, William Miller. His middle name was inspired by his father's publishing partnership with Nicholas Trübner. Nutt was educated at the University College School, London, and the College de Vitry-le-François, in Vitry-le-François, northeast France.

Nutt spent three years serving a business apprenticeship in Leipzig, Berlin, and Paris, before taking over his late father's business in 1878. In 1885, he married Marie Louise Gelly; they had two sons. Nutt was the founder of The Folk-Lore Journal (later Folk-Lore) and was elected president of The Folklore Society in 1897 and 1898.

Nutt was a friend and supporter of Jessie Weston, sharing her interest in Celtic origins of the Grail legend, and publishing some of her books. He was also associated with Whitley Stokes, Eleanor Hull and Kuno Meyer and his work had a substantial influence on the scholarship of Roger Sherman Loomis. Nutt was also instrumental to the establishment of the Irish Texts Society and his firm produced its early publications.

Nutt produced numerous works of scholarship, including Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail: With Especial Reference to the Hypothesis of Its Celtic Origin, and his collaboration with Meyer on The Voyage of Bran, Son of Febal, to the Land of the Living; An Old Irish Saga. He authored analyses of the Mabinogion and was working on an annotated edition of Matthew Arnold's Study of Celtic Literature at the time of his death.

Nutt drowned in the Seine river, France, while on holiday at Melun, on 21 May 1910. He was attempting to rescue his disabled 17-year-old son, who had been dragged into the river when his horse bolted; his son survived. His wife succeeded him as head of the firm.

Selected publications

 * Studies on the Legend of the Holy Grail: With Especial Reference to the Hypothesis of Its Celtic Origin (London: David Nutt, 1888)
 * Beside the Fire: A Collection of Irish Gaelic Folk Stories (with Douglas Hyde; London: David Nutt, 1890)
 * Folk and Hero Tales (with Duncan MacInnes; London: David Nutt, 1890)
 * The Voyage of Bran, Son of Febal, to the Land of the Living; An Old Irish Saga (with Kuno Meyer; London: David Nutt, 1895)
 * Celtic and Mediæval Romance (London: David Nutt, 1899)