Thomas Bangs Thorpe (1815–1878) was an American antebellum humorist, painter, illustrator, and author. He is best known for the short story "The Big Bear of Arkansas", which was first published in the periodical Spirit of the Times in 1841.[1]
Thomas Bangs Thorp was born in Westfield, Massachusetts, on March 1, 1815, the first son of Reverent Thomas Thorp and Rebecca Farnham.[2] He later added the "e" to his last name. His father died when the boy was four years old and the family, which then included two other children, soon moved to Albany, New York, to live with Farnham's parents.[2]
He first considered a career as an artist and studied under John Quidor.[2] He then attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut from 1834 until 1836, and while at college gave evidence of artistic and literary talent. Thorpe's struggles with illness, however, prevented him from graduating. Seeking a warmer climate for his health, he moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 1837.[2]
In 1838, Thorpe married Anna Maria Hinckley and the couple eventually had three children.[2] The next year, he began publishing short stories in publications like the Spirit of the Times and The Knickerbocker.[2] His popularity as a writer of humorous stories and character sketches set in the old Southwest grew with the publication of "The Big Bear of Arkansas" in Spirit of the Times in 1841.[2]
In 1853, Thorpe moved to New York City, where his wife died two years later. He married his second wife, Jane Fosdick, in 1857.[3] He died of Bright's disease in New York on September 20, 1878.[3] He was interred at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York.[4]
Work
Thorpe is known for his perception of nature. His best-known short stories are "Tom Owen, The Bee-Hunter" and "The Big Bear of Arkansas", inspired by the natural scenery of the Southwest. Thorpe created these works with the natural setting of the Southwest in his mind. Thorpe made it his mission to showcase the scenery through his stories.
Thorpe used natural imagery and defended the well-being of life in the wild. Many of his pieces are named after animals. He did not support the way animals were used by sportsmen. One example of this is in “Wild-cat Hunting”. In this text he describes how sportsmen are not hunters and that they tormented the wild cats in the text by trapping them, shooting them from safety and make them fight dogs.[5]
Thorpe's 1854 anti-slavery novel The Master's House focuses on a young man from North Carolina who was educated at a college in New England, then moved to Louisiana with his slaves and established a plantation there. The novel is important for its depiction of slave-trading and its mild, but persuasive, critique of slavery.
Notes
^"Thomas Bangs Thorpe". virginia.edu. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
^ abcdefgHan, John J. "Thomas Bangs Thorpe" in Writers of the American Renaissance: An A to Z Guide. Denise D. Knight, editor. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2003: 367. ISBN0-313-32140-X
^ abHan, John J. "Thomas Bangs Thorpe" in Writers of the American Renaissance: An A to Z Guide. Denise D. Knight, editor. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2003: 368. ISBN0-313-32140-X
^"Thomas B. Thorpe (1815-1878) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 2021-07-12.
^Littlefield, Daniel F. (1979). "Thomas Bangs Thorpe and the Passing of the Southwestern Wilderness". The Southern Literary Journal. 11 (2): 56–65. ISSN 0038-4291. JSTOR 20077614.
Further reading
Rickels, Milton (1962). Thomas Bangs Thorpe: humorist of the Old Southwest. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press.
Thomas Bangs Thorpe. Dictionary of Literary Biography. BookRags. Retrieved 3 January 2009.
Works by Thomas Bangs Thorpe at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
The Master's House at archive.org
January 07, 2023
thomas, bangs, thorpe, 1815, 1878, american, antebellum, humorist, painter, illustrator, author, best, known, short, story, bear, arkansas, which, first, published, periodical, spirit, times, 1841, between, 1855, 1865, contents, biography, work, notes, further. Thomas Bangs Thorpe 1815 1878 was an American antebellum humorist painter illustrator and author He is best known for the short story The Big Bear of Arkansas which was first published in the periodical Spirit of the Times in 1841 1 Thomas Bangs Thorpe between 1855 and 1865 Contents 1 Biography 2 Work 3 Notes 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography EditThomas Bangs Thorp was born in Westfield Massachusetts on March 1 1815 the first son of Reverent Thomas Thorp and Rebecca Farnham 2 He later added the e to his last name His father died when the boy was four years old and the family which then included two other children soon moved to Albany New York to live with Farnham s parents 2 He first considered a career as an artist and studied under John Quidor 2 He then attended Wesleyan University in Middletown Connecticut from 1834 until 1836 and while at college gave evidence of artistic and literary talent Thorpe s struggles with illness however prevented him from graduating Seeking a warmer climate for his health he moved to Baton Rouge Louisiana in 1837 2 In 1838 Thorpe married Anna Maria Hinckley and the couple eventually had three children 2 The next year he began publishing short stories in publications like the Spirit of the Times and The Knickerbocker 2 His popularity as a writer of humorous stories and character sketches set in the old Southwest grew with the publication of The Big Bear of Arkansas in Spirit of the Times in 1841 2 In 1853 Thorpe moved to New York City where his wife died two years later He married his second wife Jane Fosdick in 1857 3 He died of Bright s disease in New York on September 20 1878 3 He was interred at Green Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn New York 4 Work EditThorpe is known for his perception of nature His best known short stories are Tom Owen The Bee Hunter and The Big Bear of Arkansas inspired by the natural scenery of the Southwest Thorpe created these works with the natural setting of the Southwest in his mind Thorpe made it his mission to showcase the scenery through his stories Thorpe used natural imagery and defended the well being of life in the wild Many of his pieces are named after animals He did not support the way animals were used by sportsmen One example of this is in Wild cat Hunting In this text he describes how sportsmen are not hunters and that they tormented the wild cats in the text by trapping them shooting them from safety and make them fight dogs 5 Thorpe s 1854 anti slavery novel The Master s House focuses on a young man from North Carolina who was educated at a college in New England then moved to Louisiana with his slaves and established a plantation there The novel is important for its depiction of slave trading and its mild but persuasive critique of slavery Notes Edit Thomas Bangs Thorpe virginia edu Retrieved 14 April 2015 a b c d e f g Han John J Thomas Bangs Thorpe in Writers of the American Renaissance An A to Z Guide Denise D Knight editor Westport CT Greenwood Press 2003 367 ISBN 0 313 32140 X a b Han John J Thomas Bangs Thorpe in Writers of the American Renaissance An A to Z Guide Denise D Knight editor Westport CT Greenwood Press 2003 368 ISBN 0 313 32140 X Thomas B Thorpe 1815 1878 Find A Grave www findagrave com Retrieved 2021 07 12 Littlefield Daniel F 1979 Thomas Bangs Thorpe and the Passing of the Southwestern Wilderness The Southern Literary Journal 11 2 56 65 ISSN 0038 4291 JSTOR 20077614 Further reading EditRickels Milton 1962 Thomas Bangs Thorpe humorist of the Old Southwest Baton Rouge Louisiana State University Press Thomas Bangs Thorpe Dictionary of Literary Biography BookRags Retrieved 3 January 2009 External links EditWorks by or about Thomas Bangs Thorpe at Internet Archive Works by Thomas Bangs Thorpe at LibriVox public domain audiobooks The Master s House at archive org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thomas Bangs Thorpe amp oldid 1087395948, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
