Van Wyck Brooks was an American literary critic, biographer, and historian, born on February 16, 1886, in Plainfield, New Jersey. He became one of the leading intellectuals of his time, known for his in-depth studies of American literature and culture. Brooks was a pioneer in examining the cultural and historical contexts of writers and their works, seeking to understand how literature shaped, and was shaped by, American society. His most notable works include The Flowering of New England and The Ordeal of Mark Twain (1920), a critical biography of the famous author. His approach to biography was one that emphasized the personal struggles and growth of writers, placing them within the broader scope of American intellectual history. Brooks' work helped shape the study of American literature and was instrumental in understanding the development of American identity through its writers. He passed away on May 2, 1963, in Bridgewater, Connecticut, at the age of 77.