William Dwight Whitney

"William Dwight Whitney" by Thomas D. Seymour is a biography that tells the story of William Dwight Whitney, a super smart guy who studied languages, especially Sanskrit. The book looks closely at how Whitney helped build the science of language, his long career teaching at Yale University, and his work with important school groups. You'll learn all about how Whitney made Oriental studies popular in America and how much he cared about learning and teaching. The story starts with Whitney's childhood, then moves to his education at schools like Williams College and in Germany, where he became a Sanskrit expert. It talks about Whitney's work at Yale and his important books, like "Sanskrit Grammar," and his part in making the Century Dictionary. The book also shows what Whitney was like as a person—modest, kind, and a great teacher to young scholars. Reading about his life gives you a peek into the world of smart thinkers and universities in the 1800s and how Whitney left his mark.