Charles Farrar Browne (1834–1867)

Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Browne) was an American original of the mid-19th century. His writings featured fractured grammar and highly idiosyncratic spelling, but his humor really came from the pin pricks he poked at the pompous. The book features interviews with Brigham Young, the Prince of Wales, Abe Lincoln, and Prince Napoleon. Ward hooked up with Mark Twain and Dan De Quille out West and exerted a powerful influence on Twain's humor. Upon Ward's untimely death at the age of 33 in 1867, Twain called him America's greatest humorist.

"Artemus Ward, his book" contains a collection of some 50 short stories. His interview with `presydent eleckt' `A. Linkin' consists mainly of Ward fending off `orifce seekers'. Lincoln so enjoyed Ward's stories that he read one, `High-handed Outrage at Utica' to his cabinet by way of loosening the tension before springing the Emancipation Proclamation.

I especially enjoyed The Census that Ward conducted. It began: "Wat's your age? Whar was you born? Air you married, and if so how do you like it?"

You don't have to be a great President or a great writer to enjoy Artemus Ward. Do yourself a favor and track down a volume.… (mer)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
"Air you married, and if so how do you like it?", September 29, 2007


Artemus Ward (Charles Farrar Browne) was an American original of the mid-19th century. His writings featured fractured grammar and highly idiosyncratic spelling, but his humor really came from the pin pricks he poked at the pompous. The book features interviews with Brigham Young, the Prince of Wales, Abe Lincoln, and Prince Napoleon. Ward hooked up with Mark Twain and Dan De Quille out West and exerted a powerful influence on Twain's humor. Upon Ward's untimely death at the age of 33 in 1867, Twain called him America's greatest humorist.

"Artemus Ward, his book" contains a collection of some 50 short stories. His interview with `presydent eleckt' `A. Linkin' consists mainly of Ward fending off `orifce seekers'. Lincoln so enjoyed Ward's stories that he read one, `High-handed Outrage at Utica' to his cabinet by way of loosening the tension before springing the Emancipation Proclamation.

I especially enjoyed The Census that Ward conducted. It began: "Wat's your age? Whar was you born? Air you married, and if so how do you like it?"

You don't have to be a great President or a great writer to enjoy Artemus Ward. Do yourself a favor and track down a volume.… (mer)