James Brander Matthews | |
|---|---|
 Matthews circa 1910 | |
| Born | February 21, 1852 New Orleans, Louisiana, US |
| Died | March 31, 1929 (aged 77) New York City, New York, USA |
| Occupation | Professor of Dramatic Literature, writer |
| Alma mater | Columbia University |
James Brander Matthews (February 21, 1852 – March 31, 1929) was an American academic, writer and literary critic. He was the first full-time professor of dramatic literature at Columbia University in New York and played a significant role in establishing theater as a subject worthy of formal study by academics. His interests ranged from Shakespeare, Molière, and Ibsen to French boulevard comedies, folk theater, and the new realism of his own time.