Oliver Herford

General Background

• Full Name: Oliver Herford
• Lifespan: December 2, 1860 – July 5, 1935 (age 74 years)
• Nationality: Anglo-American (Born in England, lived most of his life in the United States)

Literary and Artistic Career

• Occupations: Writer, Artist, Illustrator
• Known For:
  • Pithy wit and humorous poems
  • Children's books with illustrations
  • Fables and verses with a playful touch
  • Animal illustrations and caricatures
• Style: Known as "The American Oscar Wilde" for his dry humor and clever wordplay. He often incorporated wit and whimsy into his writing and illustrations.

Life and Influences

• Family:
  • Father: Rev. Brooke Herford (Unitarian minister)
  • Sister: Beatrice Herford (also a humorist and performer)
• Education:
  • Attended Antioch College (Ohio)
  • Studied art at the Slade School (London) and Académie Julien (Paris)
• Career Path: After studying art in Europe, he settled in New York City and pursued a successful career as a writer and illustrator.

Selected Works

• The Rubáiyát of a Persian Kitten (1904): A humorous take on Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat, featuring a Persian kitten as the narrator.
• The Bashful Earthquake & Other Fables and Verses (1898): A collection of fables and verses with a playful approach to morality lessons.
• Aesop: Fifty Fables in Verse (1921): A retelling of Aesop's fables with Herford's humorous touch and illustrations.
• An Alphabet of Celebrities (1921): A collection of witty caricatures and poems featuring famous people of the time.
• Many contributions to magazines and journals, including The Mentor, Life, and Ladies' Home Journal.

Legacy

• Herford's work continues to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
• His humorous poems and illustrations offer a playful and witty perspective on the world.
• He is considered a significant figure in the realm of children's literature and humorous illustration.