Virginia Tufte
Encyclopedia
Virginia Tufte is an author and distinguished emerita professor of English at the University of Southern California
. Her special fields are Milton
, Renaissance poetry
, and the history and grammar of English. She holds Ph.D and M.A. degrees in English literature from the University of California, Los Angeles
, an M.A. from Arizona State University
, and an A.B. from the University of Nebraska.
She was born in Nebraska, and was married in Omaha in 1940 to Edward E. Tufte, who was city engineer and public works director of the city of Beverly Hills, California
, for many years. Their son is Edward Rolf Tufte, leader and author in the field of information design
, and active as a sculptor.
Her most notable recent work is Artful Sentences: Syntax as Style (2006), successor to Grammar as Style (1971). Grammar as Style developed a cult of followers in the late twentieth century, several decades after it had gone out of print, prompting her to write the new book.
Besides her work on syntax
and style, Tufte is notable for books and essays in two other areas of literary study and for a video biography. Her book The Poetry of Marriage: The Epithalamium in Europe and its Development in England (1970), a comprehensive history of the English epithalamium
, opened up an area of study for other scholars on a historical genre with centuries-old classical and Christian roots. “Epithalamium” means “at the wedding couch”, and hundreds of such poems constitute a genre in many countries.
The third area of recent work consists of many studies of artists as interpreters of John Milton’s poems. Besides numerous essays and contributions to books in this field, some in collaboration with Wendy Furman-Adams of Whittier College
, she wrote and produced a one-hour video biography
of a literary illustrator Reaching for Paradise: The Life and Art of Carlotta Petrina (1994) that has appeared on educational television stations, is archived in college and university libraries, and is in use in classrooms.
Tufte’s interest in life and family histories is reflected also in two collaborative books with anthropologist Barbara Myerhoff
, Changing Images of the Family (1981) and Remembered Lives: The Work of Ritual, Storytelling and Growing Older (1992).
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. Her special fields are Milton
John Milton
John Milton was an English poet, polemicist, a scholarly man of letters, and a civil servant for the Commonwealth of England under Oliver Cromwell...
, Renaissance poetry
English poetry
The history of English poetry stretches from the middle of the 7th century to the present day. Over this period, English poets have written some of the most enduring poems in Western culture, and the language and its poetry have spread around the globe. Consequently, the term English poetry is...
, and the history and grammar of English. She holds Ph.D and M.A. degrees in English literature from the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, an M.A. from Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, and an A.B. from the University of Nebraska.
She was born in Nebraska, and was married in Omaha in 1940 to Edward E. Tufte, who was city engineer and public works director of the city of Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, for many years. Their son is Edward Rolf Tufte, leader and author in the field of information design
Information design
Information design is the skill and practice of preparing information so people can use it with efficiency and effectiveness. Where the data is complex or unstructured, a visual representation can express its meaning more clearly to the viewer....
, and active as a sculptor.
Her most notable recent work is Artful Sentences: Syntax as Style (2006), successor to Grammar as Style (1971). Grammar as Style developed a cult of followers in the late twentieth century, several decades after it had gone out of print, prompting her to write the new book.
Besides her work on syntax
Syntax
In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing phrases and sentences in natural languages....
and style, Tufte is notable for books and essays in two other areas of literary study and for a video biography. Her book The Poetry of Marriage: The Epithalamium in Europe and its Development in England (1970), a comprehensive history of the English epithalamium
Epithalamium
Epithalamium refers to a form of poem that is written specifically for the bride on the way to her marital chamber...
, opened up an area of study for other scholars on a historical genre with centuries-old classical and Christian roots. “Epithalamium” means “at the wedding couch”, and hundreds of such poems constitute a genre in many countries.
The third area of recent work consists of many studies of artists as interpreters of John Milton’s poems. Besides numerous essays and contributions to books in this field, some in collaboration with Wendy Furman-Adams of Whittier College
Whittier College
Whittier College is a private liberal arts college in Whittier, California. As of January 2009, the college has approximately 1540 enrolled students.-Overview:...
, she wrote and produced a one-hour video biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of a literary illustrator Reaching for Paradise: The Life and Art of Carlotta Petrina (1994) that has appeared on educational television stations, is archived in college and university libraries, and is in use in classrooms.
Tufte’s interest in life and family histories is reflected also in two collaborative books with anthropologist Barbara Myerhoff
Barbara Myerhoff
Barbara Myerhoff , anthropologist, filmmaker, and founder of the Center for Visual Anthropology at the University of Southern California....
, Changing Images of the Family (1981) and Remembered Lives: The Work of Ritual, Storytelling and Growing Older (1992).