Edgar Saltus(1855-1921)
- Writer
American novelist Edgar Evertson Saltus was born in New York City in 1855. His family had been in New York City for quite some time--his ancestor, Adm. Kornelis Evertson of the Dutch Navy, had led the expedition that captured New York from the British in 1673.
Saltus got his schooling in New York City and attended Yale University in 1876, but left after a year. He spent several years traveling around Europe. He returned to the US and attended Columbia University, where he obtained a law degree (although he never practiced law). His first published work was a biography of 'Honore de Balzac', "Balzac", in 1884. "The Philosophy of Disenchatment", which came out the next year, was an account of philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer and his school.
His first novel was "Mr. Incoul's Misadventure" in 1887, and was well received. He turned out several more works over the next few years, both fiction and non-fiction (his 1893 book "Imperial Purple", a study of Roman emperors, was a favorite of US President 'Warren G. Harding'). He is also thought to have written several "potboilers" under other names, including such works as "The Lovers of the World" and "The Great Battles of All Nations".
Married three times--the last to the woman who wrote his biography--he died in 1921 in New York City after a long illness.
Saltus got his schooling in New York City and attended Yale University in 1876, but left after a year. He spent several years traveling around Europe. He returned to the US and attended Columbia University, where he obtained a law degree (although he never practiced law). His first published work was a biography of 'Honore de Balzac', "Balzac", in 1884. "The Philosophy of Disenchatment", which came out the next year, was an account of philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer and his school.
His first novel was "Mr. Incoul's Misadventure" in 1887, and was well received. He turned out several more works over the next few years, both fiction and non-fiction (his 1893 book "Imperial Purple", a study of Roman emperors, was a favorite of US President 'Warren G. Harding'). He is also thought to have written several "potboilers" under other names, including such works as "The Lovers of the World" and "The Great Battles of All Nations".
Married three times--the last to the woman who wrote his biography--he died in 1921 in New York City after a long illness.
