John Matthews Manly

John Matthews Manly was a renowned American scholar and literary critic who made significant contributions to the field of English literature, particularly in the study of Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare. His work was heavily influenced by Frederick James Furnivall and Walter William Skeat, and he was a prominent figure in the Modern Language Association. Manly's academic career was marked by his association with the University of Chicago, where he worked alongside notable scholars such as Robert Morss Lovett and James Weber Linn. He was also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Medieval Academy of America.

● Early Life and Education

John Matthews Manly was born in Sandusky, Ohio, and spent his early years in Toledo, Ohio, before moving to Chicago, Illinois. He received his education from Northwestern University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, and later from Harvard University, where he earned his Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees. During his time at Harvard University, Manly was heavily influenced by the works of Francis James Child and George Lyman Kittredge, and he developed a strong interest in Middle English and Old English literature. He also spent time at the University of Berlin, where he studied under the guidance of Wilhelm Scherer and Gustav Roethe.

● Career

Manly began his academic career as a professor at Northwestern University, before moving to the University of Chicago, where he spent the majority of his career. At University of Chicago, he worked alongside notable scholars such as Robert Herrick and Thornton Wilder, and he played a significant role in the development of the university's English department. Manly was also a prominent figure in the Modern Language Association, and he served as the organization's president from 1920 to 1921. He was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Medieval Academy of America, and he received honorary degrees from Northwestern University and University of Chicago.

● Literary Contributions

Manly's literary contributions are numerous and significant, and he is perhaps best known for his work on Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare. He was a prominent Chaucerian and Shakespearean scholar, and his work on the Canterbury Tales and the First Folio is still widely studied today. Manly was also a skilled textual critic, and his work on the textual criticism of Middle English and Old English texts is highly regarded. He was a close friend and colleague of George Lyman Kittredge and Fred Newton Scott, and he worked closely with other notable scholars such as Carleton Brown and Kemp Malone. Manly's work was also influenced by the New Criticism movement, and he was a contemporary of notable critics such as T.S. Eliot and F.R. Leavis.

● Personal Life

Manly was a private person, and little is known about his personal life. He was married to Edith Rickert, a fellow scholar and professor at the University of Chicago, and the couple had no children. Manly was a close friend and colleague of Robert Morss Lovett and James Weber Linn, and he was a member of the Chicago Literary Club. He was also a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Medieval Academy of America, and he received honorary degrees from Northwestern University and University of Chicago. Manly's personal library was donated to the University of Chicago after his death, and it is now housed in the Regenstein Library.

● Legacy

Manly's legacy is significant, and he is remembered as one of the most important American scholars of his generation. His work on Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare is still widely studied today, and his contributions to the field of English literature are immeasurable. Manly was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the Medieval Academy of America, and he received honorary degrees from Northwestern University and University of Chicago. He was also a prominent figure in the Modern Language Association, and he served as the organization's president from 1920 to 1921. Manly's work continues to influence scholars today, including notable critics such as Harold Bloom and Stephen Greenblatt, and his legacy is a testament to his dedication to the study of English literature. Category:American academics