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James Nelson Barker
Hardcover
Literary Figures19th Century United States HistoryPlays
ISBN13: 9781025499284
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 242
Weight: 1.14
Height: 0.56 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
James Nelson Barker 1784-1858 offers a comprehensive examination of the life and career of one of early America's most versatile figures. Paul H. Musser provides a detailed biographical and critical study of Barker, who balanced a distinguished career in public service with significant contributions to the development of native American drama. As a playwright, Barker was a pioneer in utilizing American themes and historical events, most notably in works such as Superstition and The Indian Princess.
This scholarly work delves into Barker's dual identity as a Philadelphia politician-serving as mayor and in various federal roles-and as a central figure in the literary circles of the early nineteenth century. Musser explores the social and political landscape of the era, illustrating how Barker's plays reflected the burgeoning national identity of the United States. By analyzing Barker's correspondence and published works, this study illuminates the challenges faced by early American writers striving to create a distinct national literature. James Nelson Barker 1784-1858 remains an essential resource for those interested in the history of American theater, nineteenth-century biography, and the cultural evolution of the early Republic.
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 was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
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.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. 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.
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