Walter Houghton was an American literary scholar and critic, best known for his work on 19th-century British literature. He served as a professor at the University of Michigan and contributed significantly to the understanding of authors like Charles Dickens and George Eliot. His scholarship often focused on the social and historical contexts of literature. In addition to his teaching, Houghton was the editor of several important literary collections and wrote extensively on the relationship between literature and society. His insights helped shape modern literary criticism, making him a respected figure in the field of English literature.