author
Frank B. (Frank Boott) Goodrich
1826–1894
A lively 19th-century American journalist and man of letters, this author turned travel, history, and society into brisk, readable storytelling. His books range from Paris sketches to sweeping accounts of the sea, showing a writer drawn to vivid scenes and big subjects.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Boston in 1826, Frank Boott Goodrich was the son of Samuel Griswold Goodrich, the popular writer better known as "Peter Parley." He graduated from Harvard in 1845, and his early years abroad helped shape his career as a journalist and author.
Goodrich became known for writing about France and European life for American readers. Sources describe his Paris letters to the New York Times around the time of Louis-Napoleon's coup, and they also connect him with dramatic writing and the literary circle at Pfaff's. His work moved easily between journalism, cultural commentary, and popular history.
He published a wide range of books, including The Court of Napoleon, The Tribute Book, and large illustrated maritime histories such as The History of the Sea and Ocean's Story. He died in 1894, leaving behind a body of work that reflects the broad curiosity and energetic style of 19th-century popular nonfiction.