Henry Clay Lewis (1825–1850) was one of the leading southern humorists of the nineteenth century. Born in South Carolina, he grew up in Yazoo City, Mississippi, and attended medical school in Louisville, Kentucky. After graduation Dr. Lewis practiced in a backwoods Louisiana community on the Tensas River, where he treated masters and their slaves on plantations as well as hunters and squatters in the swamps. Odd Leaves from the Life of a Louisiana Swamp Doctor is a series of sketches that follow the outlandish misadventures of Dr. Madison Tensas―Lewis’ literary persona. Many of these stories were first published in New York’s Spirit of the Times. Using dialect, comic imagery, folklore, picaresque autobiography, and the form of the mock oral tale, Lewis presents a vigorous―even grotesque―vision of the southern backwoods, where life was often violent and brutal, sometimes shockingly funny, and always wildly different from the polished society of townsmen and wealthy planters. In an expansive new Introduction, Edwin T. Arnold places Lewis’ writing in the context of the times, discussing its role in the development of southwestern humor as a literary genre. Arnold emphasizes Lewis’ contribution to southern letters through the author’s psychological use of the narrating persona and the complex correlation between setting and theme.

Odd Leaves from the Life of a Louisiana Swamp Doctor (Library of Southern Civilization)

Biographies & Memoirs

Lewis, Henry Clay

Historical

LSU Press

Using dialect, comic imagery, folklore, picaresque autobiography, and the form of the mock oral tale, Lewis (1825-1850) follows the outlandish misadventures of his literary persona. In an expansive new introduction, Edwin T. Arnold (English, Appalachian State University) places Lewis's writing in the context of the times, discussing its role in the development of southwestern humor as a genre. Many of the stories were first published in New York's Spirit of the Times . Paper edition (unseen), $12.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Humor & Entertainment

Humor

Louisiana State Univ Pr

Odd Leaves from the Life of a Louisiana Swamp Doctor is a series of sketches that follow the outlandish misadventures of Dr. Madison Tensas - Lewis' literary persona. Many of these stories were first published in New York's Spirit of the Times. Using dialect, comic imagery, folklore, picaresque autobiography, and the form of the mock oral tale, Lewis presents a vigorous - even grotesque - vision of the southern backwoods, where life was often violent and brutal, sometimes shockingly funny, and always wildly different from the polished society of townsmen and wealthy planters. In an expansive new Introduction, Edwin T. Arnold places Lewis' writing in the context of the times, discussing its role in the development of southwestern humor as a literary genre. Arnold emphasizes Lewis' contribution to southern letters through the author's psychological use of the narrating persona and the complex correlation between setting and theme.

Odd leaves from the life of a Louisiana swamp doctor (American humorists series)

Professionals & Academics

Literature House

Odd Leaves From the Life of a Louisiana "swamp Doctor"

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Literature & Fiction

Darley, Felix Octavius Carr

United States

Legare Street Press

Odd leaves from the life of a Louisiana swamp doctor   This book, "Odd leaves from the life of a Louisiana swamp doctor", by Henry Clay Lewis,  is a replication of a book originally published before 1850. It has been restored by human beings, page by page, so that you may enjoy it in a form as close to the original as possible.

Odd leaves from the life of a Louisiana swamp doctor

Book on Demand Ltd.

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