If you've taken any cultural and intellectual history courses that focus on literature, or courses in American studies, or advanced courses in American literature before 1865, you know who he is, because you've probably heard of his most famous book: American Renaissance: Art and Expression in the Age of Emerson and Whitman. You may have read some of it, or even all of it. You probably know he was gay, you probably also know he was what we'd call today a left liberal which means that in the late 1940s he was considered a Communist (and yes, he DID flirt with the party during the 1930s) and that he committed suicide. 63 years ago today, in fact. I've wanted to memorialize him here for some time now, but I missed his birthday (February 19, 1902) so now we're remembering his memory. Harvard University has already, with an endowed chair for a visiting professor of Gender and Sexuality. As it turns out, Matthiessen would have made a terrific Kossack.
