author
F. V. N. (Franklin Verzelius Newton) Painter
1852–1931
A teacher, critic, and historian of literature, this late-19th- and early-20th-century writer devoted much of his work to helping students read with care and confidence. His books on literary criticism, English and American literature, and education were written to be clear, practical, and inviting.
2 Audiobooks
Poets of the South A Series of Biographical and Critical Studies with Typical Poems, Annotated
by F. V. N. (Franklin Verzelius Newton) Painter
Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism
by F. V. N. (Franklin Verzelius Newton) Painter
About the author
Born in 1852 and writing as F. V. N. Painter, Franklin Verzelius Newton Painter was an American scholar whose work moved easily between literature, education, and religious writing. Library catalogs and public-domain editions consistently identify him as the author of books including A History of Education, History of English Literature, Introduction to American Literature, and Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism.
Painter taught modern languages at Roanoke College, a role noted in contemporary editions of his books. That classroom experience shows in his style: he often wrote for students and general readers, aiming to make literary study feel organized, useful, and approachable rather than forbidding.
He died in 1931. Today, Painter is best remembered through his durable educational books and literary surveys, especially works such as Poets of the South and Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism, which reflect his interest in both careful reading and the broad history of literature.