James David Hart, CBE[1] (April 18, 1911 – 23 July 1990) was an American literary scholar and professor at University of California, Berkeley for fifty-four years.
While studying for his doctorate at Harvard University, Hart conceived and began work on an American literature companion book.
Inside, on a whim, he told the receptionist that he had an idea for a book, which prompted editor Margaret Nicholson to come out to meet him.
Critic Alfred Kazin said it is "the most valuable handbook I know on our literature," and had been on his desk for nearly half a century.
[3] He also has published works on Robert Louis Stevenson, Frank Norris, Western history, popular writing and fine printing.