Synopses & Reviews
I am not ambitious, I seek only to please for the present moment, leaving the glory of posthumous fame, to the thousand little celebrities of the day,” writes Lizzie, one of the regular contributors to The Akron Offering, a literary magazine of mid-nineteenth century Northeast Ohio. I feel perfectly willing to let Posterity take care of itself,” she continues. If I succeed in beguiling one sorrowing heart from its cares, even for a few moments, I shall count myself far happier than those, whose names are recorded upon the register of fame.” Posterity gazes back at Lizzie and many more like-minded contributors in this complete edition of creative writings by and for the women of Akron, Ohio, then a booming canal town on the verge of even greater prosperity. By turns religious, comic, romantic, and political, this extraordinary collection of early midwestern creative literature expresses a wide range of sometimes contradictory opinions on both the important questions of its day and the important questions of today: historical events such as the California Gold Rush and the 1848 revolutions in Europe are considered alongside more timeless contemplations on truth, justice, and beauty. Comprehensively annotated and explained, this unprecedented critical edition of the complete run of an antebellum literary magazine has much to offer those interested in the histories of Akron, of Ohio, of the American Midwest, and of American literature.
Synopsis
The Akron Offering is the republication of a full year of a literary magazine produced in Akron, Ohio, from 1849 to 1850. The book provides a primary look into a progressive canal town on the verge of being transformed by the railroad wave that was sweeping the nation. Also, during this period, woman's rights conventions are taking place across the country reflected by the Sojourner Truth speech on High Street in Akron. The vast amount of material in this edition is available for the first time.
About the Author
Jon Miller is an associate professor of English at the University of Akron. He teaches American literature and culture from its beginnings to 1933. His research concerns the role of creative literature in the social history of alcohol and temperance in America.