author
Artemus Ward
1834–1867
A sharp 19th-century humorist who turned newspaper sketches and comic lectures into a new kind of American entertainment. Writing as Artemus Ward, he mixed deadpan silliness with sly common sense and became a strong influence on later performers, including Mark Twain.
8 Audiobooks
The Complete Works of Artemus Ward (HTML edition)
by Artemus Ward
The Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 7: Miscellaneous
by Artemus Ward
The Complete Works of Artemus Ward — Part 2: War
by Artemus Ward
About the author
Born Charles Farrar Browne in Waterford, Maine, in 1834, he worked as a printer and journalist before becoming famous under the pen name Artemus Ward. The character he created was a rustic, cheerfully misspelled observer whose odd logic let Browne poke fun at politics, manners, and everyday life.
His comic pieces first brought him wide attention in newspapers, and he later became known for public lectures as well. That combination of printed humor and stage performance made him one of the most popular American entertainers of his day.
Though he died young in 1867, his influence lasted. Contemporary reference works and later literary histories remember him as a major humorist of the 19th century and an important forerunner to American stand-up and comic monologue.