Gelett Burgess

Born in Boston in 1866, Gelett Burgess studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and began his career teaching drawing and working as an illustrator. He became known for a lively, mischievous style that mixed humor, art, and wordplay.

His work ranged widely across poetry, children’s books, satire, and criticism. Many readers know him through the "Goops" books of manners, while others remember his short comic poem about the Purple Cow. He is also often credited with helping popularize the word "blurb," showing how naturally he moved between literature, design, and publishing culture.

Burgess spent his later years in California and died in Carmel in 1951. His writing still feels bright and surprising, with a friendliness and absurd wit that make it easy to enjoy more than a century later.