American Literature: Biographies

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. The Oxford Companion to American Literature Further reading

Josh Billings

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Josh Billings pseud. of Henry Wheeler Shaw, 1818–85, American humorist and lecturer, b. Lanesboro, Mass. After a roving life as farmer, explorer, and coal miner, he settled in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., as an auctioneer and real estate dealer. In 1860 he began to write humorous sketches and homespun philosophies in rural dialect and soon became a popular lecturer. His first collection was Josh Billings: His Sayings (1869), but his best humor was published in his annual Farmer's Allminax (1869–80).

Bibliography: See study by D. B. Kesterson (1974).

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Billings, Josh

The Oxford Companion to American Literature | 1995 | | Copyright

Billings, Josh, pseudonym of H.W. Shaw.

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James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Billings, Josh." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Billings, Josh." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-BillingsJosh.html

James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Billings, Josh." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. 1995. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-BillingsJosh.html

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