author
Edward T. (Edward Tompkins) McLaughlin
1860–1893
A promising Yale teacher and literary scholar, he wrote with warmth and clarity about medieval life, English literature, and the art of reading well. His career was cut short in 1893, but his work still carries the energy of a gifted young critic.
1 Audiobook
Studies in Mediæval Life and Literature
by Edward T. (Edward Tompkins) McLaughlin
About the author
Born in Sharon, Connecticut, on May 28, 1860, Edward Tompkins McLaughlin studied at Yale and went on to teach there in English. He served first as a tutor, later became an assistant professor, and was remembered by Yale afterward through memorial prizes and scholarships established in his name.
McLaughlin is best known for Studies in Mediæval Life and Literature and for editing Literary Criticism for Students. His writing suggests a teacher who wanted literature to feel alive and approachable, especially for students beginning serious reading.
He died in 1893, apparently from typhoid fever, while still a young scholar. Because his life was so brief, the surviving record is limited, but the books and memorials linked to Yale show the impression he made on students and colleagues.