Paul H. Fry is an American literary critic and Professor Emeritus of English at Yale University, specializing in British Romanticism, the history of literary criticism, contemporary literary theory, and the intersections between literature and the visual arts. He served as the William Lampson Professor of English from 1993 until his retirement in 2018 after 47 years on the Yale faculty.
Education and early career
Fry initially pursued a career in painting before transitioning to academia.
Academic career
Appointments at Yale
Fry's career at Yale progressed through several ranks. He served as Acting Instructor from 1972 to 1974, Assistant Professor from 1974 to 1979, and Associate Professor from 1979 to 1986, receiving tenure in 1982. He was promoted to full Professor in 1986 and named William Lampson Professor of English in 1993, a position he held until his retirement.
- Executive Co-Chair, Yale–New Haven Teachers Institute and its national counterpart, the Yale National Initiative
Art criticism
In addition to his literary scholarship, Fry has published essays on painting and exhibition reviews for the influential journal ARTnews.
Beyond literary theory, Fry taught specialized courses on British Romantic poetry and criticism, including English 129 and advanced seminars. He also offered classes on ekphrasis, exploring intersections between literature and visual arts.