Samuel Kettell (August 5, 1800 - December 3, 1855) was an American poet, editor, and miscellaneous writer.[1] He compiled the 3-volume Specimens of American Poetry, the fullest anthology of American literature published to that time.[2]
Life[]
Kettell was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts, on August 5, 1800.[1]
Early in life he worked as a hack writer for Boston publisher Ssmuel G. Goodrich.[3] He assisted Goodrich in the preparation of some of his Peter Parley books. While on a voyage to Malta, Kettell translated a Parley book into modern Greek for his own amusement, and it was published in that language.[1]
Although self-taught, he became an accomplished linguist, mastering 14 different languages.[1]
He wrote under both his own name and the pseudonym "Sampson Short-and-fat".[4] He also used the pen names of "Peeping Tom" and "Timothy Titterwell," for humorous contributions to the Boston Courier. These attracted notice, and in 1848 he became the editor of the Courier, a position he held until his death.[1]
During 1851-1853 he was a member of the Massachusetts legislature, where he served on the committee on education.[1]
His principal work is Specimens of American Poetry: With critical and biographical notices, and an historical introduction (3 volumes, Boston, 1829).[1]
Other works which he published include Personal Narrative of the First Voyage of Columbus (1827), and Records of the Spanish Inquisition (1828).[1]
Kettell died in Malden, Massachusetts, on December 3, 1855.[1]
Publications[]
Non-fiction[]
- Personal Narrative of the First Voyage of Columbus to America. Boston: T.B. Wait, 1827.
- Yankee Notions: A medley (as "Timothy Titterwell"). Boston: Otis, Broaders, 1837.
- published in UK as Yankee notions; or The American Joe Miller (as "Sam Slick, Jr."). Glasgow: Francis Orr, 1842.
- Quozziana; or, Letters from Great Goslington, Mass., giving an account of the Quoz dinner, and other matters. Boston:W. White & H.P. Lewis, 1842.
- Daw's Doings; or, The history of the late war in the plantations. Boston: William White & H.P. Lewis, 1842.
Edited[]
- Specimens of American Poetry: With criticial and biographical notices. (3 volumes), Boston: S.G. Goodrich, 1829; New York: Blom, 1967. Volume I, Volume II, Volume III.
See also[]
References[]
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Samuel Kettell, Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography (edited by James Grant Wilson, John Fiske & Stanley L. Klos). New York: D. Appleton, 1887-1889. Virtualology, Web, Jan. 26, 2019.
- ↑ Kevin J. Hayes, The Recognition of Early American Literature," Oxford Handbook of Early American Literature, Oxford University Press, 2008. Oxford Handbooks Online, Web, Jan. 26, 2019.
- ↑ "Samuel Kettell," Oxford Companion to American Literature. Oxford Reference, Web, Jan. 26, 2019.
- ↑ Joseph F. Clarke (1977). Pseudonyms. BCA. p. 149.
External links[]
- Books
- Samuel Kettell (1800-1855) at Internet Archive
- Samuel Kettell at Amazon.com
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