Thompson, Maurice, 1844-1901

Maurice Thompson was an American author and critic who worked in a number of fields. Born in Indiana, his family moved to Georgia in his youth, where he was home schooled, and served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. After the war he worked a variety of jobs before moving back to Indiana, eventually opening a law office. As a young lawyer he began publishing articles, popular poetry, and old-fashioned adventure novels; his greatest success was probably a series of articles popularizing archery. As a critic, he was uncomfortable with modern literature, preferring old-fashioned values. He derided realism, and sought to turn tastes away from Zola, back to Scott. He also served in the Indiana State Legislature, and as state geologist of Indiana.

From the description of Maurice Thompson letter to My dear Mr. Lovejoy, 1887 March 22. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 70662210

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