Rufus Wilmot Griswold (1815–1857) was an American anthologist, editor,
poet, and critic. Born in Vermont, he worked as a journalist, editor,
and critic in Philadelphia, New York City, and elsewhere. He built up a
strong literary reputation, in part due to his 1842 collection The
Poets and Poetry of America. This anthology, the most comprehensive of
its time, included what he deemed the best examples of American poetry.
He produced revised versions and similar anthologies for the remainder
of his life, although many of the poets he promoted have since faded
into obscurity. Many writers hoped to have their work included in one
of these editions, although they commented harshly on Griswold's
abrasive character. Edgar Allan Poe, whose poetry had been included in
Griswold's anthology, published a critical response that questioned
which poets were included. This began a rivalry which grew when
Griswold succeeded Poe as editor of Graham's Magazine at a higher
salary than Poe's. Griswold considered himself an expert in American
poetry and was an early proponent of its inclusion on the school
curriculum. He also supported the introduction of copyright
legislation, speaking to Congress on behalf of the publishing industry,
although he was not above pirating other people's work.
Read the rest of this article:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rufus_Wilmot_Griswold>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1889:
The Dakota Territory, an organized incorporated territory of the United
States, was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and
South Dakota.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota>
1909:
Lambda Chi Alpha, today one of the largest men's general fraternities
in North America, having initiated more than 270,000 members, was
founded at Boston University.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda_Chi_Alpha>
1917:
British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour issued the Balfour
Declaration, proclaiming British support for the establishment of a
Jewish homeland in Palestine.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour_Declaration_of_1917>
1947:
American industrialist and aviator Howard Hughes flew Spruce Goose ,
the largest flying boat ever built, on its maiden flight from the coast
of Long Beach, California, USA.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_H-4_Hercules>
1963:
President of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem was assassinated, marking the
culmination of a coup d'état led by Duong Van Minh.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrest_and_assassination_of_Ngo_Dinh_Diem>
2000:
Aboard Expedition 1, American astronaut William Shepherd and Russian
cosmonauts Sergei Krikalev and Yuri Gidzenko became the first resident
crew to arrive at the International Space Station.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Space_Station>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
frisson (n):
1. A sudden surge of excitement.
2. A shiver
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/frisson>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
You know, "power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"?
It's the same with powerlessness. Absolute powerlessness corrupts
absolutely. Einstein said everything had changed since the atom was
split, except the way we think. We have to think anew.
--Studs Terkel
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Studs_Terkel>
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