author
Epes Sargent
1813–1880
A busy figure in 19th-century American letters, this editor, poet, playwright, and novelist moved easily between journalism, fiction, and the stage. He also had a lasting interest in public speaking and later became known for writing about spiritualism.
2 Audiobooks
Peculiar: A Tale of the Great Transition
by Epes Sargent
The Woman Who Dared
by Epes Sargent
About the author
Born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in 1813, he grew up in a seafaring family and entered Boston literary life at a young age. He worked as a journalist and editor for several newspapers and magazines, building a reputation as a versatile man of letters.
His writing ranged widely. He published poems, plays, and novels, and he also prepared anthologies and books connected with elocution and public speaking, fields in which he became especially well known. That mix of literary and practical writing helped make him a recognizable name to many 19th-century readers.
In his later years, he wrote extensively about spiritualism as well. He died in 1880, leaving behind a varied body of work that reflects both the literary culture and the popular interests of his time.