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The Strange Genius of Mr. O: The World of the United States' First Forgotten Celebrity

Carolyn Eastman follows James Ogilvie, a Scottish-born teacher and itinerant lecturer who became one of the early United States' most recognizable public figures before slipping into obscurity. Traveling from Atlantic cities to frontier communities, the toga-wearing orator attracted elite friends, devoted audiences, controversy, and scandal. Eastman uses his spectacular rise and disappearance to explore how Americans consumed public speech, manufactured reputation, and negotiated cultural authority. Ogilvie's strange career reveals that celebrity culture emerged far earlier in the republic than is usually assumed.

Publisher: Omohundro Institute and UNC Press
Publication date: 2021-03-01
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 360
ISBN: 9781469660516

Subjects

Biography & Autobiography / Historical History / United States / 19th Century Social Science / Popular Culture

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Interview with the Author

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1. Consolation Prize — Celebrity in the Early American RepublicChecked

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2. Ben Franklin's World — The Strange Genius of Mr. OChecked

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Podcast: New Books Network — The Strange Genius of Mr. O ↗Podcast: Conversations at the Washington Library — Unravelling the Strange Genius of Mr. O ↗