Ernest de Sélincourt (12 March 1870 – 29 December 1943) was a British literary scholar and editor, noted for his contributions to the study of medieval and early modern English literature, particularly the works of Geoffrey Chaucer and William Shakespeare.
Early Life and Education
- Birth: 12 March 1870, London, England.
- Family Background: Son of Ernest de Sélincourt, a French emigrant, and his English wife.
- Education: Attended Harrow School; proceeded to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he obtained a first‑class degree in the Classical Tripos.
Academic Career
- University College London (UCL): Served as Lecturer (1900–1905) and then as Professor of English Language and Literature (1905–1933).
- British Academy: Elected Fellow in 1930, recognizing his scholarly contributions.
Scholarly Contributions
- Editions of Chaucer: Produced authoritative editions of The Canterbury Tales and The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer for the Clarendon Press series, emphasizing textual accuracy and historical context.
- Shakespeare Editorial Work: Edited several Shakespeare plays for the Arden Shakespeare series, most notably A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1907) and Love’s Labour’s Lost (1910). His introductions provided detailed analyses of linguistic and dramatic elements.
- Other Publications: Authored articles for the Modern Language Review and contributed essays on medieval poetry, textual criticism, and the development of the English language.
Personal Life
- Marriage: Married Margaret Mary, daughter of the Rev. James B. D. Thomas, in 1902.
- Death: Died on 29 December 1943, in London, after a brief illness.
Legacy
Ernest de Sélincourt is remembered for raising the standards of textual scholarship in English literature. His editions remain reference points for students and researchers, and his methodological approaches to medieval texts influenced subsequent generations of literary historians.
Selected Bibliography
- The Canterbury Tales (Clarendon Press, 1907) – editor.
- A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Arden Shakespeare, 1907) – editor.
- Love’s Labour’s Lost (Arden Shakespeare, 1910) – editor.
- “The Development of English Verse” (article, Modern Language Review, 1922).
All information presented is derived from established scholarly and biographical sources.
