Francis Bowen championed no discernible theory of criticism, nor did he consider himself primarily a literary critic. Yet as editor and critic he made significant contributions to the cause of literary criticism in America. He was editor of the North American Review from 1843 to 1853, a period during which the journal prospered. Under Bowen the periodical's layout and typography were improved, the subscription list broadened, and the articles written in much livelier fashion. Since he is reputed to have written over a fourth of the articles he was undoubtedly central to the increased attractiveness of the journal. The subjects to which he addressed himself seem to have been randomly selected. In fact the general scope of his scholarship was so broad that a certain thinness seems to have been unavoidable. Yet so far as his literary criticism is concerned, some constants can be noted. He was suspicious of the...