Barrett Wendell
Encyclopedia
Barrett Wendell was an American
academic known for a series of textbooks including English Composition, studies of Cotton Mather
and William Shakespeare
, A Literary History of America, The France of Today, and The Traditions of European Literature.
He was born in Boston
, the son of Jacob and Mary Bertodi Wendell. He graduated from Harvard in the class of 1877 with Abbott Lawrence Lowell
who was later a president of Harvard. In 1880 was appointed Instructor in English at Harvard. He later became an Assistant Professor of English from 1888 to 1898, and a Professor of English from 1898 to 1917, after which he was a professor emeritus. He was also elected to the Harvard Board of Overseers
.
In 1904 to 1905 he travelled overseas, and lectured at Cambridge University in England, the Sorbonne in Paris, and other French universities. After this visit he wrote "The France of Today".
He was a trustee of the Boston Athenaeum
, a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society
, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
in 1916. He received honorary degrees from Harvard, Columbia University
, and an LL.D. from the University of Strasbourg
in France. He died in Boston.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
academic known for a series of textbooks including English Composition, studies of Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather
Cotton Mather, FRS was a socially and politically influential New England Puritan minister, prolific author and pamphleteer; he is often remembered for his role in the Salem witch trials...
and William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
, A Literary History of America, The France of Today, and The Traditions of European Literature.
He was born in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, the son of Jacob and Mary Bertodi Wendell. He graduated from Harvard in the class of 1877 with Abbott Lawrence Lowell
Abbott Lawrence Lowell
Abbott Lawrence Lowell was a U.S. educator and legal scholar. He served as President of Harvard University from 1909 to 1933....
who was later a president of Harvard. In 1880 was appointed Instructor in English at Harvard. He later became an Assistant Professor of English from 1888 to 1898, and a Professor of English from 1898 to 1917, after which he was a professor emeritus. He was also elected to the Harvard Board of Overseers
Harvard Board of Overseers
The Harvard Board of Overseers is one of Harvard University's two governing boards...
.
In 1904 to 1905 he travelled overseas, and lectured at Cambridge University in England, the Sorbonne in Paris, and other French universities. After this visit he wrote "The France of Today".
He was a trustee of the Boston Athenaeum
Boston Athenæum
Boston Athenæum is one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States. It is also one of only sixteen extant membership libraries, meaning that patrons pay a yearly subscription fee to use the Athenæum's services...
, a member of the Massachusetts Historical Society
Massachusetts Historical Society
The Massachusetts Historical Society is a major historical archive specializing in early American, Massachusetts, and New England history...
, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
in 1916. He received honorary degrees from Harvard, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, and an LL.D. from the University of Strasbourg
University of Strasbourg
The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with about 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers....
in France. He died in Boston.
Selected works
- The Duchess Emilia : a romance, Boston : James R. Osgood and Co., 1885.
- Cotton Mather, the Puritan priest, New York, Dodd, Mead and company, 1891.
- English composition : eight lectures given at the Lowell Institute, New York : Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1891.
- Some neglected characteristics of the New England Puritans, 1892
- William Shakespeare, a study in Elizabethan literature, New York, C. Scribner’s sons, 1894.
- Rankell’s remains : an American novel, New York, C. Scribner’s sons, 1896.
- A literary history of America, New York, C. Scribner’s Sons, 1901.
- Ralegh in Guiana, Rosamond, and A Christmas masque, New York : C. Scribner’s Sons, 1902 (Boston : Merrymount Press)
- The France of today, New York, C. Scribner, 1907.
- The privileged classes, New York, C. Scribner’s sons, 1908.
- The mystery of education, and other academic performances, New York, C. Scribner’s sons, 1909.
- The traditions of European literature, from Homer to Dante, New York, C. Scribner’s Sons, 1920.