Morton Dauwen Zabel (1901 – April 29, 1964) was an American academic and literary critic. He was the editor-in-chief of '' Poetry: A Magazine of Verse'' from 1936 to 1937, the first professor of North American Literature at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro from 1944 to 1946, and an English professor at the University of Chicago from 1947 to 1964. According to the Poetry Foundation, he was "an important force in mid-20th century American letters."

Early life

Zabel was born in 1901 in

Minnesota Lake, Minnesota Minnesota Lake is a city in Blue Earth and Faribault counties in the State of Minnesota. The population was 661 at the 2020 census. The bulk of the city is in Faribault County; a small part extends into Blue Earth County. History Minnesota L ...

. He graduated from St. Thomas Military College, where he earned a bachelor's degree. He earned a master's degree from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1933.

Career

Zabel was an associate editor of '' Poetry: A Magazine of Verse'' from 1928 to 1936, and its editor-in-chief from 1936 to 1937. He was the first professor of North American Literature at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro from 1944 to 1946. He was a professor of English at the University of Chicago from 1947 to 1964. Zabel authored or edited books about Henry James and

Joseph Conrad Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, ; 3 December 1857 – 3 August 1924) was a Poles in the United Kingdom#19th century, Polish-British novelist and short story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in t ...

. He wrote introductions in books by

, Charles Dickens, Henry James, and he reviewed books and wrote essays for '' The New Republic'', '' Partisan Review'', '' The Nation'', and '' The Southern Review''. According to the Poetry Foundation, he was "an important force in mid-20th century American letters."

Personal life, death and legacy

Zabel never married. He died on April 29, 1964, in Chicago. His funeral was held at the St John's Catholic Church in Minnesota Lake, where he was buried. Zabel is the namesake of the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Morton Dauwen Zabel Award.

Selected works

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References

External links

Morton Dauwen Zabel Papers
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the NewberryGuide to the Morton Dauwen Zabel Papers 1901-1964
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University of Chicago Special Collections Research Center
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zabel, Morton D. 1901 births 1964 deaths University of Minnesota alumni University of Chicago alumni American magazine editors Academic staff of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro University of Chicago faculty American literary critics