Rufus Wilmot Griswold
Overview
Rufus Wilmot Griswold was an American anthologist
, editor
, poet
, and critic
. Born in Vermont
, Griswold left home when he was 15 years old. He worked as a journalist, editor, and critic in Philadelphia, New York City
, and elsewhere. He built up a strong literary reputation, in part due to his 1842 collection The Poets and Poetry of America
. This anthology, the most comprehensive of its time, included what he deemed the best examples of American poetry
. He produced revised versions and similar anthologies for the remainder of his life, although many of the poets he promoted have since faded into obscurity.
Anthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, and critic
Critic
A critic is anyone who expresses a value judgement. Informally, criticism is a common aspect of all human expression and need not necessarily imply skilled or accurate expressions of judgement. Critical judgements, good or bad, may be positive , negative , or balanced...
. Born in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, Griswold left home when he was 15 years old. He worked as a journalist, editor, and critic in Philadelphia, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and elsewhere. He built up a strong literary reputation, in part due to his 1842 collection The Poets and Poetry of America
The Poets and Poetry of America
The Poets and Poetry of America was a popular anthology of American poetry collected by American literary critic and editor Rufus Wilmot Griswold...
. This anthology, the most comprehensive of its time, included what he deemed the best examples of American poetry
Poetry of the United States
American poetry, the poetry of the United States, arose first as efforts by colonists to add their voices to English poetry in the 17th century, well before the constitutional unification of the thirteen colonies...
. He produced revised versions and similar anthologies for the remainder of his life, although many of the poets he promoted have since faded into obscurity.
