Famous Authors (Men)Harkins, E. F. (Edward Francis)
General
Famous Authors (Men)
Harkins, E. F. (Edward Francis)
Authors, American -- 19th century -- Biography
It might dull the reader's interest to enter into a detailed account
of all the early work that Ford did in his father's library, but we may
say that between 1886 and 1896 he published more than twenty pamphlets
and books bearing on American historiography and bibliography, besides
the bulk of "The Writings of Thomas Jefferson." As evidence of his
prodigious capacity for energy, we offer the list of works which he
published in the single year 1889: "The Franklin Bibliography: a list
of books written by or relating to Benjamin Franklin," "List of Some
Briefs in Appeal Cases Which Relate to America Tried Before the Lords
Commissioners of Appeals of Prize Cases of His Majesty's Privy Council,
1736-1758," "Check-List of American Magazines Printed in the Eighteenth
Century," "Check-List of Bibliographies, Catalogues, Reference Lists,
and Lists of Authorities of American Books and Subjects," "Some
Materials for a Bibliography of the Official Publications of the
Continental Congress for 1774," "The Ideals of the Republic; or Great
Words from Great Americans," and "Who was the Mother of Franklin's Son?"
His most notable historical works are "The True George Washington,"
which excited so much comment when it appeared in 1896, and "The
Many-Sided Franklin," published serially in _The Century Magazine_
a few years ago. Though he may take advantage of moods, he does not
wait for moods. They say that Alphonse Daudet was such a man of moods
that two months would pass sometimes and leave the paper before him
still blank. Ford is Daudet's antithesis in this respect. His pen is
always ready. Perhaps this characteristic is one of the advantages of
pursuing diverse interests. Yet, notwithstanding the immense amount
of literature which he has produced already, the New Yorker is as
painstaking as one of those Japanese artists who will labor for years
on a single vase. Once, when half-way through a book, he discovered
that he was reaching the wrong conclusion, so he destroyed what he had
done and began again. Only a writer with a heroic disregard of time and
effort, and with a sincere purpose and unlimited zeal, would make such
a sacrifice. It is what we should expect of every master-craftsman, yet
we fear that the deed is uncommon enough.
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