This book features a biographical account of the American writer Eugene Field (1850-1895), best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays. There were two Fields – the author and the man – and it is the purpose of this study to reproduce the latter as he appeared to those who knew and loved him for what he was personally for the benefit of those who have only known him through the medium of his writings. In doing this it was far from the author's intention and farther from his friendship to disturb any of the preconceptions that have been formed from the perusal of Field's works as these are the creations of something entirely apart from the man whose genius produced them._x000D_ Contents:_x000D_ Pedigree_x000D_ His Father's First Love-affair_x000D_ The Dred Scott Case_x000D_ Birth and Early Youth_x000D_ Education_x000D_ Choice of a Profession_x000D_ Marriage and Early Domestic Life_x000D_ Early Experiences in Journalism_x000D_ In Denver, 1881-1883_x000D_ Anecdotes of Life in Denver_x000D_ Coming to Chicago_x000D_ Personal Characteristics_x000D_ Relations with Stage Folk_x000D_ Beginning of His Literary Education_x000D_ Method of Work_x000D_ Nature of His Daily Work_x000D_ Pedigree_x000D_ Introduction to Colored Inks_x000D_ Some Letters_x000D_ More Letters_x000D_ Publication of His First Books_x000D_ His Second Visit to Europe_x000D_ In the Saints' and Sinners' Corner_x000D_ Political Relations_x000D_ His "Auto-analysis"_x000D_ Last Years_x000D_ Last Days

This book features a biographical account of the American writer Eugene Field (1850-1895), best known for his children's poetry and humorous essays. There were two Fields – the author and the man – and it is the purpose of this study to reproduce the latter as he appeared to those who knew and loved him for what he was personally for the benefit of those who have only known him through the medium of his writings. In doing this it was far from the author's intention and farther from his friendship to disturb any of the preconceptions that have been formed from the perusal of Field's works as these are the creations of something entirely apart from the man whose genius produced them. Contents: Pedigree His Father's First Love-affair The Dred Scott Case Birth and Early Youth Education Choice of a Profession Marriage and Early Domestic Life Early Experiences in Journalism In Denver, 1881-1883 Anecdotes of Life in Denver Coming to Chicago Personal Characteristics Relations with Stage Folk Beginning of His Literary Education Method of Work Nature of His Daily Work Pedigree Introduction to Colored Inks Some Letters More Letters Publication of His First Books His Second Visit to Europe In the Saints' and Sinners' Corner Political Relations His "Auto-analysis" Last Years Last Days

Reproduction of the original.

Eugene Field (1850?95) is perhaps best remembered for his children's verse, especially "Little Boy Blue" and "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod." During his journalistic career, however, his column, "Sharps and Flats," in the Chicago Daily News illuminated the shenanigans of local and national politics, captured the excitement of baseball, and praised the cultural scene of Chicago and the West over that of the East Coast and Europe. Field used whimsy, satire, and, at times, unadorned admiration to depict and encapsulate the energy of a young nation reinventing itself and its political ambitions in the closing decades of the nineteenth century. Foremost, Field was a political observer. During his lifetime politics saw more public awareness and involvement than at any other time in American history, and Field's great popularity derived mainly from his near-ceaseless commentary?arch, outlandish, comic, serious?on that arena of affairs. Field also devoted many columns to entertainment and diversions, discussing the baseball "idiocy" that stormed Chicago and championing and criticizing authors and actors.