Thomas Craven was an American author, critic and lecturer, who promoted the work of American Regionalist painters, Thomas Hart Benton, John Steuart Curry and Grant Wood, among others. He was known for his caustic comments and for being the "leading decrier of the School of Paris." No. 1 on The New York Times Nonfiction best seller list for 4 weeks, from the issue of December 25, 1939. Wiki link