Edward Payson Roe

Edward Payson Roe (March 7, 1838  July 19, 1888) was an American novelist, Presbyterian minister, horticulturist and historian.

Edward Payson Roe
Born
Edward Payson Roe

(1838-03-07)March 7, 1838
Moodna Village, New Windsor, New York, United States of America
DiedJuly 19, 1888(1888-07-19) (aged 50)
Cornwall on Hudson, New York, United States of America
Resting placeWillow Dell Cemetery, Cornwall on Hudson, New York
NationalityAmerican
EducationWilliams College, Auburn Theological Seminary
OccupationNovelist, Presbyterian minister
Notable work
  • Barriers Burned Away (1872)
  • Without a Home (1881)
  • Opening of a Chestnut Burr (1874)
Spouse(s)Pauline Sands Roe
Signature

Biography

Edward Payson Roe was born in the village of Moodna, now part of New Windsor, New York. He studied at Williams College and at Auburn Theological Seminary. In 1862 he became chaplain of the Second New York Cavalry, U.S.V., and in 1864 chaplain of Hampton Hospital, in Virginia. In 1866-74 he was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Highland Falls, New York. In 1874 he removed to Cornwall-on-Hudson, where he devoted himself to the writing of fiction and to horticulture. During the American Civil War, he wrote weekly letters to the New York Evangelist, and subsequently lectured on the war and wrote for periodicals.[1]

Writings

His novels were very popular in their day, especially with middle class readers in England and America, and were translated into several European languages. Their strong moral and religious purpose, did much to break down a Puritan prejudice in America against works of fiction. One of his most consistent criticisms was that his work resembled sermons. Among his novels and horticultural writings were:[1]

Roe was mentioned in the Sinclair Lewis novel, Elmer Gantry. Elmer is said to have a volume of E.P. Roe novels among other volumes. Lewis also mentions Roe in his novel Work of Art.

His first novel inspired an eponymous movie, Barriers Burned Away, released in 1925 by W.S. Van Dyke

References

  1.  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Roe, Edward Payson". Encyclopædia Britannica. 23 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 449–450.

Biography

  • Carey, G.O. (1985). Edward Payson Roe. Twayne's United States authors series. Twayne Publishers. ISBN 978-0-8057-7421-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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