Spirit of the Times

The Oxford Companion to American Literature | 1995 | 700+ words | Copyright

Spirit of the Times (1831–61),New York journal founded by W.T. Porter. This racy “Chronicle of the Turf, Agriculture, Field Sports, Literature, and the Stage” at one time probably had a circulation over 40,000, and was the medium for many “original contributions” from subscribers in every section of the country, but particularly in the Old Southwest. These contributions were distinctly masculine tales based on oral humor of the frontier. Some of the Sut Lovingood sketches were first published here, and other contributions included T.B. Thorpe's The Big Bear of Arkansas and work by J.J. Hooper, W.T. Thompson, Sol Smith, and J.M. Field. Porter left his journal to found Porter's Spirit of the Times (1856–61?) with George Wilkes (1819–85). Wilkes next founded his own Spirit of the Times (1859–1902).

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James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Spirit of the Times." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Spirit of the Times." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-SpiritoftheTimes.html

James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Spirit of the Times." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-SpiritoftheTimes.html

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