author
George Herbert Palmer
1842–1933
A longtime Harvard teacher and writer, he brought classical literature and moral philosophy to general readers in a clear, humane voice. He is especially remembered for his translation of Homer’s Odyssey and for books on education, ethics, and the art of living well.
3 Audiobooks
The Teacher: Essays and Addresses on Education
by George Herbert Palmer, Alice Freeman Palmer
The Nature of Goodness
by George Herbert Palmer
Altruism: Its Nature and Varieties
by George Herbert Palmer
About the author
Born in Boston in 1842, George Herbert Palmer became one of Harvard’s best-known teachers, first as a student there and later as a member of the faculty for decades. He studied abroad in Germany, trained at Andover Theological Seminary, and returned to Harvard to teach Greek and then philosophy.
Palmer wrote for readers who cared about character, learning, and everyday conduct as much as abstract theory. His best-known works include a translation of The Odyssey as well as books such as The New Education and The Glory of the Imperfect, which helped make him a familiar voice in discussions of ethics and education.
He was also closely linked to educator Alice Freeman Palmer, whom he married, and after her death he wrote warmly in her memory. Palmer died in 1933, leaving behind a reputation as a scholar who tried to make serious ideas feel welcoming and useful.