About
William Lyon Phelps (1865-1943) was an English professor at Yale for 41 years, where he taught the first American university course on the modern novel. Author of nearly 40 books, he helped introduce Russian novelists to American readers. A prolific columnist, he wrote for Scribner's Magazine and syndicated newspapers, reaching millions. A popular lecturer, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society.
Major works
- The Beginnings of the English Romantic Movement (1893)critical study
- Essays on Modern Novelists (1910)essays
- Essays on Russian Novelists (1911)essays
- Autobiography with Letters (1939)autobiography
Key milestones
- 1895Taught the first American university course on the modern novel at Yale.
- 1901Appointed Lampson Professor of English Literature at Yale.
- 1922Began his monthly column 'As I Like It' in Scribner's Magazine.
Themes
Modern literatureRussian novelTeachingLiterary criticismPublic lecturing
Sources: britannica.com · anb.org · onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu