Stuart Sherman
Encyclopedia
Stuart Pratt Sherman was an American
literary critic and educator of the early 20th century noted for his criticisms of H. L. Mencken
.
. The family later relocated to Rolfe, Iowa
and finally, in 1887, to Los Angeles, California
. Despite moving to this more healthful climate, Sherman’s father, a druggist and lover of music and poetry, died when Sherman was just eleven. The family subsequently returned to New England.
Sherman entered Williams College
in 1900 where he won prizes in Latin, French, and German, and became editor of the “Williams Literary Monthly.” He graduated with a Ph.D. in 1906 after writing his thesis on the 17th-century dramatist John Ford
.
Upon graduation, Sherman became an instructor at Northwestern University
for one year before moving to the University of Illinois (U of I). In 1908 he was offered a position of the staff of The Nation
, to which he was a frequent contributor, but declined when U of I made him an associate professor. He became a full professor in 1911 and permanent chairman of the U of I English Department in 1914 where he built the department into one of the strongest in the Midwest. He was a natural teacher, noted for his sound scholarship, especially on the works of Matthew Arnold
, and for his passion for the living values of literature.
In April 1924, Sherman became editor of “Books,” the literary supplement to the New York Herald Tribune
, which became under his editorship the leading American critical journal of the day.
on 1 December 1917, denouncing both the philosophy of Nietzsche and his American apologist, Henry Louis Mencken. This began a decade long, erudite, and witty feud between these literary titans. The next salvo from Sherman was an article in the October 1920 issue of Bookman
, “Is There Anything to be Said for Literary Traditions?” where he attacked literary modernism broadside. Mistaking the challenge to conventional morals by younger literary figures as moral relativism, Sherman rose to the defense of traditional values, nationalism, and even Puritanism. As the decade of the 1920s unfolded, however, Sherman moved perceptibly to the left, eventually embracing modernism and confessing that he had erred in trying to make men good instead of happy.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
literary critic and educator of the early 20th century noted for his criticisms of H. L. Mencken
H. L. Mencken
Henry Louis "H. L." Mencken was an American journalist, essayist, magazine editor, satirist, acerbic critic of American life and culture, and a scholar of American English. Known as the "Sage of Baltimore", he is regarded as one of the most influential American writers and prose stylists of the...
.
Background, education, and academic career
Sherman was born to New Englanders John and Ada Martha (Pratt) Sherman on 1 October 1881 in Anita, IowaAnita, Iowa
Anita is a city in Cass County, Iowa, United States. The population was 1,049 at the 2000 census. Lake Anita State Park is located just outside of the town.-Geography:Anita is located at ....
. The family later relocated to Rolfe, Iowa
Rolfe, Iowa
Rolfe is a city in Pocahontas County, Iowa, United States. The population was 675 at the 2000 census.It was named for John Rolfe, an Englishman who married the Native American princess Pocahontas in Jamestown, Virginia.-Geography:...
and finally, in 1887, to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Despite moving to this more healthful climate, Sherman’s father, a druggist and lover of music and poetry, died when Sherman was just eleven. The family subsequently returned to New England.
Sherman entered Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1900 where he won prizes in Latin, French, and German, and became editor of the “Williams Literary Monthly.” He graduated with a Ph.D. in 1906 after writing his thesis on the 17th-century dramatist John Ford
John Ford (dramatist)
John Ford was an English Jacobean and Caroline playwright and poet born in Ilsington in Devon in 1586.-Life and work:...
.
Upon graduation, Sherman became an instructor at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
for one year before moving to the University of Illinois (U of I). In 1908 he was offered a position of the staff of The Nation
The Nation
The Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
, to which he was a frequent contributor, but declined when U of I made him an associate professor. He became a full professor in 1911 and permanent chairman of the U of I English Department in 1914 where he built the department into one of the strongest in the Midwest. He was a natural teacher, noted for his sound scholarship, especially on the works of Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold
Matthew Arnold was a British poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the famed headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator...
, and for his passion for the living values of literature.
In April 1924, Sherman became editor of “Books,” the literary supplement to the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
, which became under his editorship the leading American critical journal of the day.
Controversy
With the entry of the United States into the Great War, Sherman expressed his chauvinistic patriotism in an address before the National Council of Teachers of EnglishNational Council of Teachers of English
The National Council of Teachers of English is an American professional organization dedicated to "improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education...
on 1 December 1917, denouncing both the philosophy of Nietzsche and his American apologist, Henry Louis Mencken. This began a decade long, erudite, and witty feud between these literary titans. The next salvo from Sherman was an article in the October 1920 issue of Bookman
Bookman
Bookman may refer to:* Bookman , a character in the manga series D.Gray-man* Bookman , a person who engages in bookselling* Bookman , a person who loves books...
, “Is There Anything to be Said for Literary Traditions?” where he attacked literary modernism broadside. Mistaking the challenge to conventional morals by younger literary figures as moral relativism, Sherman rose to the defense of traditional values, nationalism, and even Puritanism. As the decade of the 1920s unfolded, however, Sherman moved perceptibly to the left, eventually embracing modernism and confessing that he had erred in trying to make men good instead of happy.
Personal life
In 1906 Sherman married Ruth Bartlet Mears, daughter of a chemistry professor at Williams, with whom he had a son. Sherman died of a heart attack while vacationing after his canoe was overturned in Lake MichiganLake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
.
Published works
- Introduction to an edition of John Ford (dramatist)John Ford (dramatist)John Ford was an English Jacobean and Caroline playwright and poet born in Ilsington in Devon in 1586.-Life and work:...
’s “'Tis Pity She's a Whore'Tis Pity She's a Whore'Tis Pity She's a Whore is a tragedy written by John Ford. It was likely first performed between 1629 and 1633, by Queen Henrietta's Men at the Cockpit Theatre. The play was first published in 1633, in a quarto printed by Nicholas Okes for the bookseller Richard Collins...
” / “The Broken HeartThe Broken HeartThe Broken Heart is a Caroline era tragedy written by John Ford, and first published in 1633."The play has long vied with Tis Pity She's a Whore as Ford's greatest work...the supreme reach of his genius...."...
.” Boston, London, D.C. Heath & Co., 1915 - "Matthew Arnold: How to Know Him,” 1917.
- "On Contemporary Literature," New York, Holt, 1917.
- "Americans,” New York, C. Scribner’s sons, 1922.
- "The Genius of AmericaThe Genius of AmericaThe Genius of America is book written by Stuart Sherman. The book is a study and opinion piece on the youth of America for the future generations of America "Studies in Behalf of the Younger Generation"....
,” New York, London, C. Scribner’s sons, 1923. - "Points of ViewPoints of ViewPoints of View is a long-running television show shown in the United Kingdom on BBC One, featuring the letters of viewers offering praise, criticism and purportedly witty observations on the television of recent weeks...
,” New York, Scribner’s, 1924. - "Joyous things: or, Forty and upwards: an essay," New York: Hampden Hills Press, 1925.
- "Critical Woodcuts," illustrated with portraits engraved on wood by Bertrand Zadig, New York, London, C. Scribner’s Sons, 1926.