author
Calvin Thomas
1854–1919
A pioneering American scholar of German language and literature, he helped bring German studies into the mainstream of U.S. universities. His books on Goethe, Schiller, and German literary history introduced generations of English-speaking readers to major writers and ideas.
2 Audiobooks
An anthology of German literature
by Calvin Thomas
The Life and Works of Friedrich Schiller
by Calvin Thomas
About the author
Born near Lapeer, Michigan, in 1854, Calvin Thomas studied at the University of Michigan and later continued his training in Leipzig. He went on to teach German at Michigan and then at Columbia University, becoming one of the best-known American professors in his field.
Thomas wrote widely for students and general readers as well as scholars. His works include studies of Goethe and Schiller, a history of German literature, and teaching materials that helped shape how German was taught in the United States.
Remembered as a leading figure in Germanic studies, he built a career at a time when modern language study was growing quickly in American higher education. He died in New York City in 1919.