Who is Matthew Arnold from Literary Theory: An Introduction and what is their importance?

Matthew Arnold promoted the production and consumption of English literature for explicitly practical, authoritarian ends during the 19th century. He believed that the promotion of English literature was crucial to creating political unity in England. The Church of England had become weak and was no longer effective at unifying the country. In light of revolutionary attitudes that had only recently washed across Europe, Arnold greatly desired to maintain the political and economic privilege of the aristocracy, of which he was a member.