Roger Shattuck
Encyclopedia
Roger Whitney Shattuck was an American
writer best known for his books on French literature
, art
, and music
of the twentieth century.
to parents Howard Francis Shattuck, a physician, and Elizabeth (Colt) Shattuck, he studied at St. Paul's School
in Concord, New Hampshire
before entering Yale College
.
, serving as a cargo pilot in the Pacific theater during the Second World War. After the war, he returned to school, graduating from Yale in 1947. Shattuck then moved to Paris
where he worked for UNESCO
's film service. In this capacity he came into contact with luminaries of European culture such as Jean Cocteau
, Alice B. Toklas
and Georges Braque
, and met his future wife Nora White, a dancer with the Ballets Russes
.
, Shattuck worked in publishing, and later taught at Harvard University
, the University of Texas at Austin
, the University of Virginia
, and Boston University
, despite his lack of a graduate degree. He retired as a professor emeritus from Boston University in 1997.
. He later served as president of the organization.
and other publications. He was the author of several highly regarded works of literary criticism
—Proust's Way, The Banquet Years: The Origins of the Avant-Garde in France - 1885 to World War I, Forbidden Knowledge: From Prometheus to Pornography—and served as editor of the restored edition of Helen Keller's
memoir The Story of My Life
.
In 1975, Shattuck received the National Book Award
.
Upon Shattuck's passing, the Yale critic Harold Bloom
said of his colleague, "He was an old-fashioned, in a good sense, man of letters. He incarnated his love for literature."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer best known for his books on French literature
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
, art
French art
French art consists of the visual and plastic arts originating from the geographical area of France...
, and music
French classical music
French classical music began with the sacred music of the Roman Catholic Church, with written records predating the reign of Charlemagne. It includes all of the major genres of sacred and secular, instrumental and vocal music...
of the twentieth century.
Background and education
Born in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to parents Howard Francis Shattuck, a physician, and Elizabeth (Colt) Shattuck, he studied at St. Paul's School
St. Paul's School (Concord, New Hampshire)
St. Paul's School is a highly selective college-preparatory, coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire affiliated with the Episcopal Church. The school is one of only six remaining 100% residential boarding schools in the U.S. The New Hampshire campus currently serves 533 students,...
in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
before entering Yale College
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
.
Military Service in Second World War
He left Yale to join the Army Air CorpsUnited States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
, serving as a cargo pilot in the Pacific theater during the Second World War. After the war, he returned to school, graduating from Yale in 1947. Shattuck then moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he worked for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
's film service. In this capacity he came into contact with luminaries of European culture such as Jean Cocteau
Jean Cocteau
Jean Maurice Eugène Clément Cocteau was a French poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, playwright, artist and filmmaker. His circle of associates, friends and lovers included Kenneth Anger, Pablo Picasso, Jean Hugo, Jean Marais, Henri Bernstein, Marlene Dietrich, Coco Chanel, Erik Satie, María...
, Alice B. Toklas
Alice B. Toklas
Alice B. Toklas was an American-born member of the Parisian avant-garde of the early 20th century.-Early life, relationship with Gertrude Stein:...
and Georges Braque
Georges Braque
Georges Braque[p] was a major 20th century French painter and sculptor who, along with Pablo Picasso, developed the art style known as Cubism.-Early Life:...
, and met his future wife Nora White, a dancer with the Ballets Russes
Ballets Russes
The Ballets Russes was an itinerant ballet company from Russia which performed between 1909 and 1929 in many countries. Directed by Sergei Diaghilev, it is regarded as the greatest ballet company of the 20th century. Many of its dancers originated from the Imperial Ballet of Saint Petersburg...
.
Academic career
Returned to New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Shattuck worked in publishing, and later taught at Harvard University
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...
, the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, and Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
, despite his lack of a graduate degree. He retired as a professor emeritus from Boston University in 1997.
Organizations
Shattuck was among the founding members of the Association of Literary Scholars and CriticsAssociation of Literary Scholars and Critics
The Association of Literary Scholars, Critics and Writers was organized in 1994 as the Association of Literary Scholars and Critics by a group of over 400 scholars troubled by what they saw as an over reliance on post-modern theory in the academy...
. He later served as president of the organization.
Works
Shattuck's essays frequently appeared in The New York Review of BooksThe New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...
and other publications. He was the author of several highly regarded works of literary criticism
Literary criticism
Literary criticism is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often informed by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of its methods and goals...
—Proust's Way, The Banquet Years: The Origins of the Avant-Garde in France - 1885 to World War I, Forbidden Knowledge: From Prometheus to Pornography—and served as editor of the restored edition of Helen Keller's
Helen Keller
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree....
memoir The Story of My Life
The Story of My Life (biography)
The Story of My Life, first published in 1903, is Helen Keller's autobiography detailing her early life, especially her experiences with Anne Sullivan...
.
In 1975, Shattuck received the National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
.
Academic philosophy
Routinely described as "one of America's leading literary scholars," Shattuck was considered something of a traditionalist. He became well known for his 1994 speech "Nineteen Theses on Literature," delivered to the Association of Literary Scholars and Critics. In it he argued (as point XIV), "Everything has been said. But nobody listens. Therefore it has to be said all over again—only better. In order to say it better, we have to know how it was said before."Upon Shattuck's passing, the Yale critic Harold Bloom
Harold Bloom
Harold Bloom is an American writer and literary critic, and is Sterling Professor of Humanities at Yale University. He is known for his defense of 19th-century Romantic poets, his unique and controversial theories of poetic influence, and his prodigious literary output, particularly for a literary...
said of his colleague, "He was an old-fashioned, in a good sense, man of letters. He incarnated his love for literature."