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George Arnold
1834–1865
A 19th-century American poet and journalist, he was known for light verse, songs, and sentimental poems that reached a wide magazine audience. His best-known work, “Drifting,” helped keep his name alive long after his early death.
1 Audiobook
The Magician's Own Book, or, the Whole Art of Conjuring
by George Arnold, Frank Cahill
About the author
Born in New York City in 1834, George Arnold built his career as a poet, journalist, and magazine writer during a lively period in American literary culture. He wrote for popular periodicals and became known for verse that was musical, approachable, and often touched by humor or melancholy.
His poems and songs circulated widely in the mid-1800s, and he was especially remembered for "Drifting," a poem that remained closely associated with his name. Although he died young in 1865, his work reflects the tastes of his era and offers a glimpse of the literary world of newspapers and magazines in 19th-century America.
Arnold is not as widely read now as some of his contemporaries, but he still holds interest for readers who enjoy Victorian-era poetry, period journalism, and overlooked American literary figures.