author

R. A. (Rolfe Arnold) Scott-James

b. 1878

A sharp-eyed British critic and editor, he helped early 20th-century readers make sense of changing literary tastes. He is still remembered for the 1908 book Modernism and Romance, often noted for one of the earliest uses of the word “modernism.”

1 Audiobook

Personality in Literature

Personality in Literature

by R. A. (Rolfe Arnold) Scott-James

About the author

Born on 21 December 1878, Rolfe Arnold Scott-James was a British journalist, editor, and literary critic. He studied at Brasenose College, Oxford, and went on to build a career writing about literature with clarity and confidence during a period when English writing was rapidly changing.

Scott-James is best known as a critic who tried to explain new literary movements to a broad reading public. His book Modernism and Romance from 1908 is especially notable, and he is often credited with using the term “modernism” at a very early stage in its literary life.

Beyond his books, he was also active in journalism and editorial work, which helped give him a strong influence on literary discussion in Britain. He died on 3 November 1959. A suitable verified portrait image could not be confirmed from the sources reviewed in this conversation.