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Joel Benton
1832–1911
An American poet, critic, and lecturer from 19th-century New York, he wrote with a strong interest in literary figures and public ideas. His books range from poetry to studies of Emerson and Poe, giving a lively glimpse into the literary world of his time.
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About the author
Born in Amenia, New York, on May 29, 1832, Joel Benton built a varied career as a writer, poet, and lecturer. He was active in literary life as well as public discussion, and later died in Poughkeepsie on September 15, 1911.
Benton is especially remembered for combining poetry with literary criticism and biography. Among the works linked to him are Emerson as a Poet, In the Poe Circle, Greeley on Lincoln, The Truth About Protection, and The Life of Phineas T. Barnum, which show how comfortably he moved between creative writing, commentary, and nonfiction.
His work reflects the broad interests of a 19th-century man of letters: poetry, essays, lectures, and books about major cultural figures. For listeners interested in older American literary voices, Benton offers a mix of reflective writing and firsthand engagement with the writers and debates of his era.