Josh Billings

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Josh Billings

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 | | Â© The Oxford Companion to American Literature 1995, originally published by Oxford University Press 1995. (Hide copyright information) 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. Oxford University Press. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. 21 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Billings, Josh." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. Oxford University Press. 1995. Encyclopedia.com. (December 21, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-BillingsJosh.html

James D. Hart and and Phillip W. Leininger. "Billings, Josh." The Oxford Companion to American Literature. Oxford University Press. 1995. Retrieved December 21, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O123-BillingsJosh.html

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