J. Y. T. Greig
Encyclopedia
John Young Thomson Greig (1891-1963) as a British literary scholar and award-winning biographer. He was born in Manchuria
where his father was a Presbyterian missionary. He served in the First World War as an officer in the Northumberland Fusiliers. After the war, he studied at the University of Glasgow
, receiving his MA and a DLitt in 1924. Till 1931, he was on the staff of Armstrong College in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1932, he moved to the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa
where he succeeded Professor Max Drennan as chair of the English Department.
Greig was a leading scholar on the Scottish philosopher David Hume
. His 1931 biography of Hume won the James Tait Black Award and he also edited Hume's letters. He also published a well-regarded biography of WM Thackeray in 1950, and a volume entitled The Psychology of Laughter and Comedy. In addition, Greig wrote four novels under the pseudonym
of John Carruthers during the 1920s.
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
where his father was a Presbyterian missionary. He served in the First World War as an officer in the Northumberland Fusiliers. After the war, he studied at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
, receiving his MA and a DLitt in 1924. Till 1931, he was on the staff of Armstrong College in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. In 1932, he moved to the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
where he succeeded Professor Max Drennan as chair of the English Department.
Greig was a leading scholar on the Scottish philosopher David Hume
David Hume
David Hume was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist, known especially for his philosophical empiricism and skepticism. He was one of the most important figures in the history of Western philosophy and the Scottish Enlightenment...
. His 1931 biography of Hume won the James Tait Black Award and he also edited Hume's letters. He also published a well-regarded biography of WM Thackeray in 1950, and a volume entitled The Psychology of Laughter and Comedy. In addition, Greig wrote four novels under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of John Carruthers during the 1920s.