John Erskine

John Erskine (1879–1951) was an American educator, literary critic, and novelist. He taught for many years at Columbia University, where he became known for his work as a professor and for his advocacy of broad reading and discussion. Alongside his academic career, Erskine wrote essays and fiction, earning a wide readership in the early twentieth century. His best-known novel, *The Private Life of Helen of Troy* (1925), reimagines classical myth through a modern psychological lens. Erskine’s writing often blended literary learning with accessible storytelling, reflecting his belief that literature should speak to general readers as well as specialists.