Dr. Benjamin DeMott, professor emeritus of English at Amherst College, was a widely respected scholar, teacher, literary critic and social commentator. He held a doctorate in English from Harvard University and his field was 17th-century literature. He was the author of more than a dozen books, including The Imperial Middle: Why Americans Can't Think Straight About Class; The Trouble With Friendship: Why American's Can't Think Straight About Race; and Killer Woman Blues: Why Americans Can't Think Straight About Gender and Power. He was also a frequent essayist for popular publications, including The Atlantic and Harper's.