Books with author John Kennedy Toole

"Mr. Kennedy has acquitted himself with great credit, and acquired permanent reputation, in sundry departments of literature - the biography, the satire, the descriptive narrative and the novel. His 'Life of Wirt' takes rank among the best of the American biographies....As a novelist the reputation of the author rests wholly upon 'Horse-Shoe Robinson.' This romance was originally published in 1835, and at once took firm hold upon the public fancy....At that time, the events of the revolution had bee little used in works of fiction. 'The Spy,' and 'Lionel Lincoln,' of Mr. Cooper, and one or more novels, by writers of less note, constituted, in that early day, the body of our romantic literature, founded upon events of the revolutionary period; and just enough had been done, in this field, to whet the popular appetite, and to indicate the excellent uses to which our struggle for independence might be put. 'Horse-Shoe Robinson' strengthened the popular faith to this effect....His merits lie in portraiture of character, and, especially, in a happy perception of the piquant and the humorous....The true attraction of the work lies wholly in the character of 'Horse-Shoe Robinson.' This is a faithful portrait of a frank, shrewd, generous, high-spirited backwoodsman; rough and untutored but warm and kindly; unlearned in books, but of admirable mother wit; quick in expedients, fertile in resource; of large experience; and of that buoyant nature which never knows how to succumb to misfortune, and so laughs under the pressure of fate as to take from it most of its sour aspects....He is one of our favorites, whom we hold in great respect as an author, and in great regard as a man. His book we cordially commend, as truthful in its spirit, and lively and attractive in its interest." -The Southern Quarterly Review

Excerpt from Horse-Shoe Robinson: A Tale of the Tory AscendencyIn the course of my journey I met an incident, which I have preserved in my journal. The reader of the tale which occupies this volume has some interest in it.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

IN the winter of eighteen hundred and eighteen-nineteen, I had occasion to visit the western section of South Carolina. The public conveyances had taken me to Augusta, in Georgia. There I purchased a horse, a most trusty companion, with whom I had many pleasant experiences: a sorrel, yet retained by me in admiring memory. A valise strapped behind my saddle, with a great coat spread upon that, furnished all that I required of personal accommodation. My blood beat temperately with the pulse of youth and health. I breathed the most delicious air in the world. My travel tended to the region of the most beautiful scenery. The weather of early January was as balmy as October; a light warm haze mellowed the atmosphere, and cast the softest and richest hues over the landscape. I retraced my steps from Augusta to Edgefield, which I had passed in the stage coach. From Edgefield I went to Abbeville, and thence to Pendleton. I was now in the old district of Ninety Six, just at the foot of the mountains. My course was still westward. I journeyed alone, or rather, I ought to say, in good company, for my horse and I had established a confidential friendship, and we amused ourselves with a great deal of pleasant conversation--in our way. Besides, my fancy was busy, and made the wayside quite populous--with people of its own: there were but few of any other kind.

John Pendleton Kennedy (October 25, 1795 – August 18, 1870) was an American novelist and Whig politician who served as United States Secretary of the Navy from July 26, 1852 to March 4, 1853, during the administration of President Millard Fillmore, and as a U.S. Representative from Maryland's 4th congressional district. He was the brother of U.S. Senator Anthony Kennedy. He was also the Speaker of the Maryland State assembly and served several different terms in the assembly. Kennedy helped to lead the effort to end slavery in Maryland,[1] which, as a non-confederate state, was not affected by the Emancipation Proclamation and required a state law to free slaves within its borders and to outlaw the furtherance of the practice.[1] Kennedy was also an advocate of religious tolerance and also of memorializing and furthering study of Maryland history.