Joseph Wood Krutch
Joseph Wood Krutch was an influential American writer, critic, and educator born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1893. He graduated from the University of Tennessee and earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University. Krutch served as an editor and associate editor for The Nation from 1924 to 1952 and held teaching positions at several institutions, including Columbia University, Vassar College, and the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. Over his career, he authored twenty-nine books covering topics such as drama, literature, and history, with a philosophical approach to many of his works. His notable publication, *The Modern Temper: A Study and a Confession*, presented a critical view of contemporary society. Krutch's later writings, particularly after studying Henry David Thoreau, reflected a more positive outlook, especially during his years in Tucson, Arizona, where he shifted his focus to nature and natural history. Throughout his life, he received numerous awards and honorary degrees, establishing a legacy as a significant figure in American literature and criticism. Krutch passed away in 1970 in Tucson.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Joseph Wood Krutch
Writer
- Born: November 25, 1893
- Birthplace: Knoxville, Tennessee
- Died: May 22, 1970
- Place of death: Tucson, Arizona
Biography
Joseph Wood Krutch was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1893. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1915, ultimately earning his M.A. in 1916 and his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 1923. From 1924 to 1952, he served on the staff of the The Nation as an editor and associate editor.
Krutch taught at several schools, including the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, Vassar College, and the New School for Social Research. He held a professorship at Columbia University from 1937 to 1953. Krutch taught classes in journalism and English at his different teaching positions.
Aside from teaching, Krutch wrote twenty-nine books. His books were written on whatever interested him most, usually drama, literature, and history. Some of these books are philosophical in nature. Krutch was known as a nonconformist, which he picked up from his family as a child.
Perhaps his most recognized work, The Modern Temper: A Study and a Confession was a somewhat pessimistic review of society at the time, which he saw as somewhat empty. In the 1930’s, the majority of his work, books like Five Masters: A Study in the Mutations of the Novel and The American Drama Since 1918: An Informal History, often looked critically at art, literature, as well as their growth and development over time.
In the 1940’s, Krutch focused on the writing of biographies on figures such as Henry David Thoreau and Samuel Johnson. In particular, studying Thoreau helped Krutch’s negative look on the world change for the better. This change was reflected in some of his later works. In 1962, Krutch published More Lives than One, his autobiography.
Krutch received many awards, such as the Burroughs Medal for Nature Writing, the Fife Award form the Garden Club of America, and the Richard Price Ettinger Award. He held many honorary degrees. In 1950, under doctor’s orders, Krutch moved away from New York City to Tucson, Arizona, where his writing shifted towards nature and natural history. Krutch lived out his retirement years in Tuscon, where he died in 1970.