David Daiches
David Daiches MA, DPhil, CBE (1912–2005) was a scholar and writer whose first work was published in the 1930s. His academic career took him to the USA where he taught at Chicago and Cornell Universities, then to Cambridge and Sussex, where he was inaugural professor of English literature. From 1980 to 1986 he was Director of the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities at Edinburgh University.
As literary critic, historian and biographer his work was wide-ranging and innovative. In particular, he played a key role in revitalising interest in Scottish literature and culture, with work on Robert Burns, Walter Scott, R. L. Stevenson, Bonnie Prince Charlie, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Scotch whisky.
Other works include A Critical History of English Literature, books on British and American twentieth century fiction and poetry, The Paradox of Scottish Culture, Scotland and the Union, God and the Poets, and his much acclaimed autobiographical Two Worlds. He also published poetry, notably in the New Yorker and his collection A Weekly Scotsman and Other Poems.