author
Ernest Crosby
1856–1907
A passionate American reformer who turned away from privilege to argue for peace, justice, and a simpler moral life. His writing blends satire, conscience, and activism, especially in attacks on war and imperialism.
1 Audiobook
Captain Jinks, Hero
by Ernest Crosby
About the author
Born in New York City in 1856, Ernest Howard Crosby was trained in law at New York University and Columbia Law School, and he briefly served in public life, including as a judge in Burma during the late 1880s and early 1890s. Over time, though, he moved away from a conventional career and became known instead as a writer and social reformer.
Crosby was deeply influenced by Leo Tolstoy and by the reform ideas of Henry George. He became a strong advocate of pacifism, anti-militarism, and anti-imperialism, and he was active in causes such as the Anti-Imperialist League. His work often challenged the violence and self-importance of modern politics, urging readers to think more seriously about conscience and nonresistance.
He wrote poems, essays, and fiction, including Captain Jinks, Hero, a sharp satire of war and empire. He also supported vegetarianism and broader humanitarian reform. Crosby died in 1907, but his work still stands out for its moral clarity and its refusal to separate literature from public life.