author
James B. (James Burton) Pond
1838–1903
A Civil War officer turned star lecture manager, he helped shape the American speaking circuit and worked with famous figures including Mark Twain and Henry Morton Stanley. His memoirs offer a lively window into public life and celebrity culture in the late 19th century.
1 Audiobook
Eccentricities of genius : memories of famous men and women of the platform and stage
by James B. (James Burton) Pond
About the author
Born in Cuba, New York, in 1838, James B. Pond first worked in printing and journalism before serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. He fought with the 3rd Wisconsin Cavalry and received the Medal of Honor for his actions at Baxter Springs, Kansas.
After the war, he moved into the lecture business and became one of the best-known managers on the American lyceum circuit. Often known as Major Pond, he represented a wide range of speakers, writers, and public figures, and sources connected with Mark Twain note that Pond managed Twain's tours for many years.
He also wrote memoirs drawn from his years among lecturers and celebrities, including Eccentricities of Genius. That mix of soldier, showman, and memoirist makes him an unusually vivid figure in American literary and cultural history.