Thomas Lounsbury
Encyclopedia
Thomas Raynesford Lounsbury (January 1, 1838–1915) was an American
literary historian and critic, born in Ovid, New York, January 1, 1838. He graduated at Yale
in 1859 and subsequently received honorary degrees from Yale, Harvard
, Lafayette
, Princeton
, and Aberdeen
. He enlisted in the 126th New York Volunteers in 1862 and served in the Civil War
as a first lieutenant.
From 1871 until his retirement in 1906 he was professor of English language and literature in Yale. For 33 years he was also librarian at Sheffield Scientific School
, Yale. He was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
His work is marked by sound scholarship and literary acumen. It is as a student of Chaucer, of Shakespeare, and of the English language from the point of view of its development that he especially distinguished himself. His editorial work includes: Chaucer's Parliament of Foules (1877); the Complete Works of Charles Dudley Warner
(1904); and the Yale Book of American Verse (1912). Professor Lounsbury wrote other important publications which include:
Prof. Lounsbury was also the subject of some needling by Mark Twain, in his famous critique of James Fenimore Cooper ("Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses", written 1895). Lounsbury had written favorably of Cooper, which Twain took to mean that Lounsbury simply hadn't actually read Cooper.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
literary historian and critic, born in Ovid, New York, January 1, 1838. He graduated at Yale
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
in 1859 and subsequently received honorary degrees from Yale, Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, Lafayette
Lafayette College
Lafayette College is a private coeducational liberal arts and engineering college located in Easton, Pennsylvania, USA. The school, founded in 1826 by James Madison Porter,son of General Andrew Porter of Norristown and citizens of Easton, first began holding classes in 1832...
, Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, and Aberdeen
Aberdeen College
Aberdeen College is the largest further education college in Scotland. It was formed from the amalgamation of the former Aberdeen Technical College, Aberdeen College of Commerce and Clinterty Agricultural College....
. He enlisted in the 126th New York Volunteers in 1862 and served in the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
as a first lieutenant.
From 1871 until his retirement in 1906 he was professor of English language and literature in Yale. For 33 years he was also librarian at Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School was founded in 1847 as a school of Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut for instruction in science and engineering. Originally named the Yale Scientific School, it was renamed in 1861 in honor of Joseph E. Sheffield, the railroad executive. The school was...
, Yale. He was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
His work is marked by sound scholarship and literary acumen. It is as a student of Chaucer, of Shakespeare, and of the English language from the point of view of its development that he especially distinguished himself. His editorial work includes: Chaucer's Parliament of Foules (1877); the Complete Works of Charles Dudley Warner
Charles Dudley Warner
Charles Dudley Warner was an American essayist, novelist, and friend of Mark Twain, with whom he co-authored the novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today.-Biography:...
(1904); and the Yale Book of American Verse (1912). Professor Lounsbury wrote other important publications which include:
- A History of the English Language (1879, 1894)
- Life of James Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore CooperJames Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
(1882) - Studies in Chaucer (three volumes, 1891)
- Shakespeare as a Dramatic Artist (1901)
- Shakespeare and Voltaire (1902)
- The Standard of Pronunciation in English (1904)
- The Text of Shakespeare (1906)
- The Standard of Usage in English (1908)
- English Spelling and Spelling Reform (1909)
- Shakespeare as a Dramatic Artist (1912)
Prof. Lounsbury was also the subject of some needling by Mark Twain, in his famous critique of James Fenimore Cooper ("Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offenses", written 1895). Lounsbury had written favorably of Cooper, which Twain took to mean that Lounsbury simply hadn't actually read Cooper.