author
F. V. N. (Franklin Verzelius Newton) Painter
1852–1931
A longtime Roanoke College professor who wrote clearly for students and general readers, he helped make literary study and the history of education more approachable. His books range from surveys of English and American literature to educational history and criticism.
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 known in print as F. V. N. Painter, Franklin Verzelius Newton Painter was an American scholar, teacher, and writer. His books and title pages identify him as a professor of modern languages at Roanoke College, and his work shows a strong interest in both literature and education.
Painter wrote across several related fields, including literary criticism, literary history, and the history of education. Among the works associated with him are A History of Education, History of English Literature, Introduction to American Literature, Elementary Guide to Literary Criticism, and Poets of the South. His writing was aimed less at specialists than at readers who wanted organized, readable introductions to major subjects.
He died in 1931. Today, Painter is remembered mainly through the many public-domain editions of his books, which preserve the voice of a teacher-scholar trying to open up literature and learning for a wider audience.