R.W.B. Lewis

R.W.B. Lewis was a renowned American literary critic, biographer, and scholar, best known for his works on Edith Wharton, Henry James, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. He was a prominent figure in the field of American literature, and his writings have been widely acclaimed by scholars such as Lionel Trilling, Alfred Kazin, and Malcolm Cowley. Lewis's academic career was marked by his association with prestigious institutions like Yale University, where he taught alongside notable scholars like Harold Bloom and Jacques Barzun. His literary critiques have been published in esteemed journals such as The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, and The Partisan Review.

● Early Life and Education

R.W.B. Lewis was born in Chicago, Illinois, to a family of English and Welsh descent. He spent his early years in Illinois and later moved to New York City, where he attended Columbia University and earned his undergraduate degree. Lewis then pursued his graduate studies at Yale University, where he earned his Ph.D. in English literature under the guidance of scholars like Chauncey Brewster Tinker and William Lyon Phelps. During his time at Yale University, Lewis was influenced by the works of T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, and Wallace Stevens, which later shaped his literary critiques.

● Career

Lewis began his academic career as a lecturer at Yale University, where he taught courses on American literature and English literature. He later became a professor of English and American studies at Yale University, a position he held until his retirement. Lewis was also a visiting professor at other prestigious institutions, including Harvard University, Princeton University, and University of California, Berkeley. Throughout his career, Lewis was associated with notable scholars like C. Vann Woodward, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., and John Updike, and his works have been reviewed by prominent critics like Joyce Carol Oates and John Irving.

● Literary Criticism and Works

Lewis was a prolific writer, and his literary critiques have been widely published in journals and books. His notable works include The American Adam, a study of the American novel from Herman Melville to William Faulkner, and Edith Wharton: A Biography, a comprehensive biography of the American novelist. Lewis's literary critiques have also appeared in collections such as The Sewanee Review, The Kenyon Review, and The Hudson Review. His works have been influenced by the writings of Matthew Arnold, F.R. Leavis, and Lionel Trilling, and he has been praised by scholars like Harold Bloom and Geoffrey Hartman for his insightful analyses of American literature.

● Awards and Honors

Throughout his career, Lewis received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to American literature. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography for his biography of Edith Wharton, and he also received the National Book Critics Circle Award for his literary critiques. Lewis was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and he was awarded honorary degrees from institutions like Harvard University, Yale University, and Columbia University. His works have been recognized by organizations like the Modern Language Association and the American Studies Association.

● Personal Life and Legacy

R.W.B. Lewis passed away on June 13, 2002, in New Haven, Connecticut. He is remembered as a prominent scholar and literary critic who made significant contributions to the field of American literature. Lewis's legacy continues to be felt through his works, which remain widely read and studied by scholars and students of American literature. His influence can be seen in the writings of scholars like Helen Vendler, Frank Kermode, and Christopher Ricks, and his literary critiques continue to be published in journals and books. Lewis's association with Yale University and other prestigious institutions has ensured that his works remain an integral part of the academic curriculum, introducing new generations of scholars to the works of American writers like Herman Melville, Mark Twain, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Category:American literary critics