author
W. C. (William Chauncey) Bartlett
1818–1907
A lawyer, preacher, editor, and nature writer, he led a remarkably varied life and helped shape California literary culture in the 19th century. His work ranges from journalism and biography to reflective outdoor writing, with a voice closely tied to the American West.
1 Audiobook
A Breeze from the Woods, 2nd Ed.
by W. C. (William Chauncey) Bartlett
About the author
Born in Haddam, Connecticut, on December 30, 1818, William Chauncey Bartlett studied at Williams College and later at Ohio University. He was admitted to the Ohio bar and practiced law in Dayton before turning toward journalism and public life.
His career shifted several times: he worked for the Dayton Gazette, preached against slavery in Indianapolis, and then moved west during the California gold-rush era. In California he became known as an editor and writer, serving on the San Francisco Bulletin and later editing the Overland Monthly, an important literary magazine of the period.
Bartlett also wrote books, including A Breeze from the Woods and A Hoosier Abroad. He died in 1907, leaving behind the record of a life that moved between law, religion, newspapers, and literature.