author
Joel Tyler Headley
1813–1897
A 19th-century American writer who turned history into fast-moving, dramatic reading, he was known for popular works on Napoleon, Washington, and the War of 1812. His career also ranged beyond books, taking him into journalism, public office, and public debate.
4 Audiobooks
The Great Riots of New York, 1712 to 1873
by Joel Tyler Headley
Stanley's Adventures in the Wilds of Africa A Graphic Account of the Several Expeditions of Henry M. Stanley into the Heart of the Dark Continent
by Joel Tyler Headley, Willis Fletcher Johnson
The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2
by Joel Tyler Headley
The Second War with England, Vol. 2 of 2
by Joel Tyler Headley
About the author
Born in Walton, New York, in 1813, Joel Tyler Headley first trained for the ministry, graduating from Union College and studying at Auburn Theological Seminary. Ill health pushed him away from pastoral work, and he found his real calling in writing. He went on to build a wide-ranging career as an author, editor, and public figure.
Headley became especially well known for lively historical books written for a broad audience, including works on Napoleon and his marshals, George Washington and his generals, and the War of 1812. His writing helped bring major events and personalities of history to general readers in an energetic, narrative style that made the past feel immediate.
He also worked in journalism and politics, serving with the New York Tribune and later as New York's Secretary of State. Headley died in 1897, leaving behind a body of work that reflects both the popular historical tastes and the public life of 19th-century America.