author
Robt. L. (Robert Love) Taylor
1850–1912
A gifted storyteller as well as a politician, he became one of Tennessee's best-known public figures through speeches, books, and a warm, entertaining style. His writing carries the same lively, personal voice that made audiences know him as "Our Bob."
1 Audiobook
Gov. Bob. Taylor's Tales "The fiddle and the bow," "The paradise of fools," "Visions and dreams"
by Robt. L. (Robert Love) Taylor
About the author
Born in Carter County, Tennessee, in 1850, Robert Love Taylor built a public career that blended politics, writing, and live performance. He served multiple terms as governor of Tennessee and later represented the state in the U.S. Senate, but he was also widely known as a lecturer whose humor and homespun storytelling made him a popular figure beyond politics.
Taylor came from a prominent political family, and his famous 1886 gubernatorial race against his brother Alfred became known as the "War of the Roses." That campaign helped fix his public image as a charismatic speaker, and he continued to build that reputation on the lecture circuit, where he mixed sentiment, anecdote, and regional color in a way audiences loved.
As an author, he published books and sketches drawn from his speeches, memories, and reflections on Southern life. His work is remembered less for formal literary ambition than for its easy charm and strong speaking voice, which makes it especially appealing in audio form. He died in 1912 while serving in the Senate.