Logan Pearsall Smith

Logan Pearsall Smith
Logan Pearsall Smith (1865–1946) was an American-born essayist and critic, known for his polished and witty prose. He was a prominent figure in the literary circles of both England and America, contributing to the Edwardian literary scene. Some of his best-known works include "Trivia," a collection of aphorisms and reflections, and "All Trivia," which further showcases his skill in combining humor and insight. Smith's writing focused on the subtleties of language, culture, and society, often displaying a keen, ironic wit.

Author's Books:


A GREETING 'What funny clothes you wear, dear Readers! And your hats! The thought of your hats does make me laugh. And I think your sex-theories quite horrid.' Thus across the void of Time I send, with a wave of my hand, a greeting to that quaint, remote, outlandish, unborn people whom we call Posterity, and whom I, like other very great writers, claim as my readers—urging them to hurry up... more...

BOOK I How blest my lot, in these sweet fields assign'd Where Peace and Leisure soothe the tuneful mind. SCOTT, of Amwell, Moral Eclogues (1773) Happiness Cricketers on village greens, haymakers in the evening sunshine, small boats that sail before the wind—all these create in me the illusion of Happiness, as if a land of cloudless pleasure, a piece of the old Golden World, were hidden, not (as... more...

The Naturalization of Foreign Words. There is no point on which usage is more uncertain and fluctuating than in regard to the words which we are always borrowing from foreign languages. Expression generally lags behind thought, and we are now more than ever handicapped by the lack of convenient terms to describe the new discoveries, and new ways of thinking and feeling by which our lives are enriched... more...