author
Henry Peterson
1818–1891
A busy figure in 19th-century American letters, he moved easily between journalism, poetry, fiction, and the stage. He is especially remembered for his long connection to The Saturday Evening Post and for bringing a strong moral voice to his writing.
1 Audiobook
Dulcibel: A Tale of Old Salem
by Henry Peterson
About the author
Born in Philadelphia in 1818, Henry Peterson was an American editor, novelist, poet, and playwright. He came from a publishing family and built a career that crossed several parts of the literary world, from newspapers and magazines to books and drama.
Peterson is best known for his long service as editor of The Saturday Evening Post, a role he held for decades. He also owned the publishing firm H. Peterson & Company, which placed him at the center of literary life as both a writer and a publisher.
Alongside his editorial work, he wrote poems, novels, and plays, and he was also associated with abolitionist causes. He died in 1891, leaving behind the picture of a versatile man of letters who helped shape American reading culture in the 1800s.