Popular English Professor and former Adams House Master Robert J. Kiely '60 underwent unexpected heart bypass surgery Friday to correct a condition uncovered in a recent medical checkup.

Kiely, who is the Loker professor of English, is in stable condition and is expected to return to Harvard at the beginning of November, according to English Department Chair Lawrence Buell.

"We're relieved to hear that the surgery went well and that he appears to be bouncing back very quickly," said Buell, who is also Marquand professor of English.

The medical procedure occurred just two weeks into the semester. Kiely had already begun teaching two courses--English 13, "The English Bible," and English 289, a graduate-level class on postmodernism.

Students in Kiely's undergraduate course learned about their instructor's condition in a briefing Buell gave at the beginning of class Tuesday.

Buell gave yesterday's lecture, but said Dr. Prudence Steiner would teach the course until Kiely returns.

Steiner taught the course before Kiely took the reins and, according to Buell, was among a list of suggested substitutes that Kiely provided over the weekend.

"This will be very good continuity, and we're relieved that it's been arranged for," Buell said.