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Willard R. Espy

November 23, 2023

Willard Richardson Espy (December 11, 1910 – February 20, 1999) was an American editor, philologist, writer, poet, and local historian. Raised in the seaside village of Oysterville, Washington, Espy later studied at the University of Redlands in California before becoming an editor in New York City, as well as a contributor to Reader's Digest, The New Yorker, Punch, and other publications.

Willard R. Espy
BornWillard Richardson Espy
(1910-12-11)December 11, 1910
Olympia, Washington, U.S.
DiedFebruary 20, 1999(1999-02-20) (aged 88)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Resting placeOysterville Cemetery, Washington, U.S.
Occupation
  • Writer
  • poet
  • philologist
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Redlands
Genre
Notable worksAn Almanac of Words at Play
Oysterville: Roads to Grandpa's Village
Spouse
Hilda Cole
​
(m. 1940)​
Louise Manheim
​
(m. 1962)​

In the 1960s, he began publishing books on philology as well collections of poetry collections, and became the best-known collector of and commentator on word play of his time.[1] In 1977, he published the national bestseller Oysterville: Roads to Grandpa's Village, a semi-autobiographical novel about his familial heritage in the Oysterville community. Espy died at New York Hospital in Manhattan in 1999, and was interred at Oysterville Cemetery.

Early life edit

Espy was born in Olympia, Washington in 1910, the sixth of seven children, to Harry Albert Espy (1876–1959) and Helen Medora Espy (née Richardson; 1878–1954).[2] His father, a one-time Washington state senator, was of Scots-Irish descent.[3] His mother was from San Francisco, the daughter of a local preacher.[4]

He and his siblings were raised in the coastal village of Oysterville, Washington, which had been founded in 1854 by his grandfather, R. H. Espy, a settler who arrived in Oregon Territory via The Oregon Trail.[5] Espy graduated from the University of Redlands in 1930 with a B.A. after which he spent a year abroad, enrolling at the Sorbonne in Paris, planning to study philosophy.[6][7] He returned to the United States in 1932, working as a newspaper editor in California, later moving to New York City where he was eventually hired by Reader's Digest in 1941. Espy spent next sixteen years working for Reader's Digest in various positions, including as promotion director.[7]

Career edit

Espy's writing career took off in the late 1960s; he eventually authored fifteen books on language, and his poetry and articles regularly appeared in Punch, Reader's Digest, The Atlantic Monthly, The Nation, and Word Ways: The Journal of Recreational Linguistics.[6][8] Espy earned praise from contemporary critics such as Louis Untermeyer and John Chancellor.[9] Summarizing Espy's writing, critic Alistair Cooke wrote:

To Willard Espy the English language is what a football is to Joe Namath, a golf ball to Arnold Palmer, the male of the species to Zsa Zsa Gabor: a wonderful object to manipulate, to flog, to coax and have a barrel of fun with.[9]

Later in life, Espy divided his time between Manhattan and his home in Oysterville, and wrote nationally bestselling books on local history, including Oysterville: Roads to Grandpa's Village (1977) and Skulduggery on Shoalwater Bay (1998).[6] Two of his books on wordplay, The Game of Words and An Almanac of Words at Play, were honored at the Governor's Writers Day Awards (now the Washington State Book Awards), [10] and the latter was a national bestseller.[11] He was also a contributing writer for The New Yorker[12] and other publications.

Death edit

 
Espy's grave at Oysterville Cemetery

Espy died aged 88 at New York Hospital in Manhattan on February 20, 1999.[7][13] He is interred in a family plot in Oysterville Cemetery.[14] His second wife Louise, a native of New York, died in November 2011, and was interred beside him.[14]

Legacy edit

The Espy Foundation was established in 1998; the non-profit foundation, based out of Espy's home in Oysterville, Washington, served as a retreat space for artists and writers in the Pacific Northwest.[15] In December 2010, the foundation officially closed.[15]

Espy's light verse has been compared to that of Lewis Carroll, W. S. Gilbert, Ogden Nash and Cole Porter.[7]

Bibliography edit

  • The Game of Words (1971) ISBN 0-7234-0173-X
  • Oysterville: Roads to Grandpa's Village (1976) ISBN 0-517-52196-2
  • The Game of Words (1972) ISBN 0-448-01196-4
  • Omak Me Yours Tonight, or, Ilwaco million miles for one of your smiles: A Ballard of Washington State (1973) ISBN 0-9634294-1-8
  • An Almanac of Words at Play (1975) ISBN 0-517-52463-5
  • The Life and Works of Mr. Anonymous (1977) ISBN 0-380-45047-X
  • O Thou Improper, Thou Uncommon Noun (1978) ISBN 0-517-53511-4
  • Say it My Way: How to avoid certain pitfalls of spoken English together with a decidedly informal history of how our language rose (or fell) (1980) ISBN 0-14-005733-1
  • Another Almanac of Words at Play (1981) ISBN 0-233-97288-9
  • The Wars of the Words (1980)
  • A Children's Almanac of Words at Play (1982) ISBN 0-340-34852-6
  • Have A Word on Me: A Celebration of Language (1984) ISBN 0-671-25255-0
  • Espygrams: Anagram Verse (1982) ISBN 0-517-54598-5
  • Word Puzzles: Anagrams from America's Favorite Logophile (1983) ISBN 0-934878-31-5
  • The Garden of Eloquence: A Rhetorical Bestiary (1983) ISBN 0-06-181256-0
  • Espygrams II: 80 New Anagram Verses (1984) ISBN 0-517-54757-0
  • Words to Rhyme With (1986) ISBN 0-8160-4313-2
  • The Word's Gotten Out (1989) ISBN 0-517-07940-2
  • Skullduggery on Shoalwater Bay (1998)
  • The Best of An Almanac of Words at Play (1999) ISBN 0-87779-145-7

References edit

  1. ^ Nilsen, Alleen; Nilsen, Don (2008). "Literature and humor". In Raskin, Victor (ed.). The Primer of Humor Research. Walter de Gruyter. pp. 243–80. ISBN 978-3-11-018616-1.
  2. ^ Espy 1992, p. 258.
  3. ^ Espy 1992, p. 37.
  4. ^ Espy 1992, pp. 255–59.
  5. ^ Espy 1992, pp. 117–20.
  6. ^ a b c Willard R. Espy (1999). The Best of An Almanac of Words at Play. Merriam-Webster. ISBN 978-0-87779-145-4.
  7. ^ a b c d Thomas, Robert McG. Jr. (February 25, 1999). "Willard Espy, Who Delighted in Wordplay, Is Dead at 88". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Eckler, A. Ross (2010). "Look back!". Word Ways: The Journal of Recreational Linguistics. 43 (3): 228–229.
  9. ^ a b The New York Times Saturday Review of Books and Art. Vol. 2. Arno Press. 1976. p. 94.
  10. ^ "Governor's Writers Day Awards at the Washington State Library, 1966–2000". WA State Library. Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  11. ^ "The Wonderful World of Words". New York Magazine: 159. November 14, 1983. ISSN 0028-7369.
  12. ^ Espy, Willard R. (1986) "All End-Letters Different in a Poem," The New Yorker (Word Ways): Vol. 19 : Iss. 3 , Article 3.
  13. ^ "Willard Espy Obituary". National Public Radio. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
  14. ^ a b "Live long and..." Sydney of Oysterville. June 10, 2012. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  15. ^ a b Gable, Cate (December 14, 2010). "End of an Era for the Espy Foundation". Chinook Observer. Retrieved February 27, 2018.

Works cited edit

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Willard R. Espy.

November 23, 2023
willard, espy, willard, richardson, espy, december, 1910, february, 1999, american, editor, philologist, writer, poet, local, historian, raised, seaside, village, oysterville, washington, espy, later, studied, university, redlands, california, before, becoming. Willard Richardson Espy December 11 1910 February 20 1999 was an American editor philologist writer poet and local historian Raised in the seaside village of Oysterville Washington Espy later studied at the University of Redlands in California before becoming an editor in New York City as well as a contributor to Reader s Digest The New Yorker Punch and other publications Willard R EspyBornWillard Richardson Espy 1910 12 11 December 11 1910Olympia Washington U S DiedFebruary 20 1999 1999 02 20 aged 88 New York City New York U S Resting placeOysterville Cemetery Washington U S OccupationWriterpoetphilologistNationalityAmericanAlma materUniversity of RedlandsGenreLight verselocal historyNotable worksAn Almanac of Words at PlayOysterville Roads to Grandpa s VillageSpouseHilda Cole m 1940 wbr Louise Manheim m 1962 wbr In the 1960s he began publishing books on philology as well collections of poetry collections and became the best known collector of and commentator on word play of his time 1 In 1977 he published the national bestseller Oysterville Roads to Grandpa s Village a semi autobiographical novel about his familial heritage in the Oysterville community Espy died at New York Hospital in Manhattan in 1999 and was interred at Oysterville Cemetery Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death 4 Legacy 5 Bibliography 6 References 7 Works cited 8 External linksEarly life editEspy was born in Olympia Washington in 1910 the sixth of seven children to Harry Albert Espy 1876 1959 and Helen Medora Espy nee Richardson 1878 1954 2 His father a one time Washington state senator was of Scots Irish descent 3 His mother was from San Francisco the daughter of a local preacher 4 He and his siblings were raised in the coastal village of Oysterville Washington which had been founded in 1854 by his grandfather R H Espy a settler who arrived in Oregon Territory via The Oregon Trail 5 Espy graduated from the University of Redlands in 1930 with a B A after which he spent a year abroad enrolling at the Sorbonne in Paris planning to study philosophy 6 7 He returned to the United States in 1932 working as a newspaper editor in California later moving to New York City where he was eventually hired by Reader s Digest in 1941 Espy spent next sixteen years working for Reader s Digest in various positions including as promotion director 7 Career editEspy s writing career took off in the late 1960s he eventually authored fifteen books on language and his poetry and articles regularly appeared in Punch Reader s Digest The Atlantic Monthly The Nation and Word Ways The Journal of Recreational Linguistics 6 8 Espy earned praise from contemporary critics such as Louis Untermeyer and John Chancellor 9 Summarizing Espy s writing critic Alistair Cooke wrote To Willard Espy the English language is what a football is to Joe Namath a golf ball to Arnold Palmer the male of the species to Zsa Zsa Gabor a wonderful object to manipulate to flog to coax and have a barrel of fun with 9 Later in life Espy divided his time between Manhattan and his home in Oysterville and wrote nationally bestselling books on local history including Oysterville Roads to Grandpa s Village 1977 and Skulduggery on Shoalwater Bay 1998 6 Two of his books on wordplay The Game of Words and An Almanac of Words at Play were honored at the Governor s Writers Day Awards now the Washington State Book Awards 10 and the latter was a national bestseller 11 He was also a contributing writer for The New Yorker 12 and other publications Death edit nbsp Espy s grave at Oysterville CemeteryEspy died aged 88 at New York Hospital in Manhattan on February 20 1999 7 13 He is interred in a family plot in Oysterville Cemetery 14 His second wife Louise a native of New York died in November 2011 and was interred beside him 14 Legacy editThe Espy Foundation was established in 1998 the non profit foundation based out of Espy s home in Oysterville Washington served as a retreat space for artists and writers in the Pacific Northwest 15 In December 2010 the foundation officially closed 15 Espy s light verse has been compared to that of Lewis Carroll W S Gilbert Ogden Nash and Cole Porter 7 Bibliography editThe Game of Words 1971 ISBN 0 7234 0173 X Oysterville Roads to Grandpa s Village 1976 ISBN 0 517 52196 2 The Game of Words 1972 ISBN 0 448 01196 4 Omak Me Yours Tonight or Ilwaco million miles for one of your smiles A Ballard of Washington State 1973 ISBN 0 9634294 1 8 An Almanac of Words at Play 1975 ISBN 0 517 52463 5 The Life and Works of Mr Anonymous 1977 ISBN 0 380 45047 X O Thou Improper Thou Uncommon Noun 1978 ISBN 0 517 53511 4 Say it My Way How to avoid certain pitfalls of spoken English together with a decidedly informal history of how our language rose or fell 1980 ISBN 0 14 005733 1 Another Almanac of Words at Play 1981 ISBN 0 233 97288 9 The Wars of the Words 1980 A Children s Almanac of Words at Play 1982 ISBN 0 340 34852 6 Have A Word on Me A Celebration of Language 1984 ISBN 0 671 25255 0 Espygrams Anagram Verse 1982 ISBN 0 517 54598 5 Word Puzzles Anagrams from America s Favorite Logophile 1983 ISBN 0 934878 31 5 The Garden of Eloquence A Rhetorical Bestiary 1983 ISBN 0 06 181256 0 Espygrams II 80 New Anagram Verses 1984 ISBN 0 517 54757 0 Words to Rhyme With 1986 ISBN 0 8160 4313 2 The Word s Gotten Out 1989 ISBN 0 517 07940 2 Skullduggery on Shoalwater Bay 1998 The Best of An Almanac of Words at Play 1999 ISBN 0 87779 145 7References edit Nilsen Alleen Nilsen Don 2008 Literature and humor In Raskin Victor ed The Primer of Humor Research Walter de Gruyter pp 243 80 ISBN 978 3 11 018616 1 Espy 1992 p 258 Espy 1992 p 37 Espy 1992 pp 255 59 Espy 1992 pp 117 20 a b c Willard R Espy 1999 The Best of An Almanac of Words at Play Merriam Webster ISBN 978 0 87779 145 4 a b c d Thomas Robert McG Jr February 25 1999 Willard Espy Who Delighted in Wordplay Is Dead at 88 The New York Times Eckler A Ross 2010 Look back Word Ways The Journal of Recreational Linguistics 43 3 228 229 a b The New York Times Saturday Review of Books and Art Vol 2 Arno Press 1976 p 94 Governor s Writers Day Awards at the Washington State Library 1966 2000 WA State Library Washington Secretary of State Retrieved November 23 2014 The Wonderful World of Words New York Magazine 159 November 14 1983 ISSN 0028 7369 Espy Willard R 1986 All End Letters Different in a Poem The New Yorker Word Ways Vol 19 Iss 3 Article 3 Willard Espy Obituary National Public Radio Retrieved February 27 2018 a b Live long and Sydney of Oysterville June 10 2012 Archived from the original on February 27 2018 Retrieved February 25 2018 a b Gable Cate December 14 2010 End of an Era for the Espy Foundation Chinook Observer Retrieved February 27 2018 Works cited editEspy Willard R 1992 1977 Oysterville Roads to Grandpa s Village University of Washington Press ISBN 978 0 517 52196 0 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Willard R Espy Willard Richardson Espy at WorldCatPortals nbsp Literature nbsp Language nbsp United States nbsp New York City Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Willard R Espy amp oldid 1183184904, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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