author
George Ticknor
1791–1871
A key figure in bringing modern language study to the United States, he helped reshape Harvard’s curriculum and became one of the country’s earliest great scholars of Spanish literature. His wide-ranging interests also led him to help found the Boston Public Library.
3 Audiobooks
History of Spanish Literature, vol. 1 (of 3)
by George Ticknor
History of Spanish Literature, vol. 3 (of 3)
by George Ticknor
History of Spanish Literature, vol. 2 (of 3)
by George Ticknor
About the author
Born in Boston on August 1, 1791, he became an influential American educator, author, and Hispanist. After studying in Europe, he returned to Harvard and played an important role in modernizing the curriculum, especially by giving serious attention to modern languages and literature rather than focusing only on the classical tradition.
He is best known for his landmark History of Spanish Literature, published in 1849, which was widely recognized as the first full-scale history of the subject in English. His work helped introduce generations of readers and students to Spanish writing, and it established his reputation as a pioneer in the field of Hispanic studies in the United States.
His impact reached beyond the classroom. He was one of the founders of the Boston Public Library in 1848 and later left the library his notable collection of books on Spanish literature. He died in Boston on January 26, 1871, remembered as a scholar who helped broaden American intellectual life.