author
James Thomas Fields
1817–1881
A lively figure in 19th-century American literary life, he helped shape what readers found on their shelves as a publisher, editor, and writer. Best known for his work in Boston publishing, he also wrote poetry and warm literary reminiscences of the authors he knew.
1 Audiobook
Yesterdays with Authors
by James Thomas Fields
About the author
Born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on December 31, 1817, he went to Boston as a young man and built his career in the book trade. He became a partner in the publishing firm that grew into Ticknor and Fields, one of the most important American publishing houses of the 19th century.
He was known not only as a publisher but also as an editor and author. Fields edited The Atlantic Monthly during the 1860s and wrote poetry, essays, and recollections, including books such as Yesterdays with Authors. His work placed him close to many major literary figures of his era, and his reputation rests on both the books he published and the literary world he helped bring together.
He died in Boston on April 24, 1881. Remembered as a central presence in American letters, he remains an interesting figure for readers who enjoy the history of publishing as much as literature itself.