George Saintsbury
George Saintsbury
#### A Life of Literary Devotion
Full Name and Common Aliases
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George Edward Bénézet Saintsbury was commonly known as G.E.B. Saintsbury.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on September 23, 1845, in Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland. Died on November 28, 1933, at the age of 88.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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A British literary critic, poet, historian, and academic, Saintsbury was a prominent figure in the world of English literature during his time.
Early Life and Background
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Saintsbury was born into a family of modest means. His father was a lawyer, and his mother was a woman of strong intellectual pursuits. The young George showed a keen interest in reading and writing from an early age, developing a passion for literature that would stay with him throughout his life.
Major Accomplishments
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Saintsbury's academic career began at the University of Edinburgh, where he studied English Literature. He went on to become a fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, and later held positions as Regius Professor of Modern History at Oxford University and as a professor of English Language and Literature at the University of London.
Notable Works or Actions
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Saintsbury's contributions to literary scholarship are numerous and significant. He wrote several books on English literature, including _The History of English Prosody_ (1912) and _A Short History of English Literature_ (1923). His work in this area helped establish him as a leading authority on the subject.
One of his most notable works is _Early English Books: A Hand-List of Works Printed in England or of English Authors Printed Abroad Before 1641_ (1903), which provided a comprehensive catalog of early English literature. This work remains an essential resource for scholars and researchers to this day.
Impact and Legacy
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Saintsbury's impact on literary scholarship cannot be overstated. He played a significant role in shaping the field of English literature studies, influencing generations of scholars with his insightful writings and meticulous research.
His love of poetry also led him to publish several collections of verse, demonstrating his own creative talents as well as his deep appreciation for the art form.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Saintsbury's contributions to English literature, coupled with his dedication to scholarship and teaching, have made him a lasting figure in the world of literary studies. His work continues to be studied by scholars around the globe, ensuring that his legacy endures for years to come.
Quotations from Saintsbury's works are frequently cited in academic papers and scholarly articles, a testament to the enduring value of his insights into English literature.
Quotes by George Saintsbury
But dinner is dinner, a meal at which not so much to eat – it becomes difficult to eat much at it as you grow older – as to drink, to talk, to flirt, to discuss, to rejoice “at the closing of the day”. I do not think anything serious should be done after it, as nothing should before breakfast.
The Italian prose tale had begun to exercise that influence as early as Chaucer’s time: but circumstances and atmosphere were as yet unfavourable for its growth.
The gamin Gavroche puts in a strong plea for mercy, and his sister Eponine, if Hugo had chosen to take more trouble with her, might have been a great, and is actually the most interesting, character. But Cosette – the cosseted Cosette – Hugo did not know our word or he would have seen the danger – is merely a pretty and rather selfish little doll, and her precious lover Marius is almost ineffable.
The hardest thing to attain... is the appreciation of difference without insisting on superiority.
I do not think anything serious should be done after dinner, as nothing should be before breakfast.
But dinner is dinner, a meal at which not so much to eat - it becomes difficult to eat much at it as you grow older - as to drink, to talk, to flirt, to discuss, to rejoice "at the closing of the day". I do not think anything serious should be done after it, as nothing should before breakfast.
Let us also once more rejoice in, and thank God for, the fact that we know nothing about Homer, and practically nothing about Shakespeare.
We shall not busy ourselves with what men ought to have admired, what they ought to have written, what they ought to have thought, but with what they did think, write, admire.