Richard G. (Richard Green) Moulton

Born in England in 1849, Richard Green Moulton became a literary scholar and educator known for explaining great texts in a clear, readable way. He studied at Cambridge and went on to build a career that joined close reading, public teaching, and a strong interest in how literature works.

Moulton is especially remembered for applying literary analysis to the Bible, treating its books as drama, poetry, and narrative as well as religious writing. Works such as The Modern Reader's Bible helped many general readers see biblical writing in a new light, and his lectures made literary study feel accessible rather than remote.

He later taught at the University of Chicago, where he was associated with English literature and literary theory. Over a long career, he wrote and edited books that linked classical learning, biblical studies, and practical criticism, leaving a legacy as one of the early popularizers of literary interpretation.