Griswold, Rufus Wilmot

Griswold, Rufus Wilmot, 1815–57, American editor, b. Benson, Vt. He was influential as editor of Graham's Magazine (1842–43) and the International Monthly Magazine (1850–52) and as anthologist of The Poets and Poetry of America (1842) and several similar books. He had known Edgar Allan Poe since 1842 and on Poe's death was named his literary executor. The obituary he wrote emphasized the scandals attached to Poe's name, and in his edition of Poe's writings he added passages to Poe's letters favorable to himself and had them published as Poe's own.

See his selected letters and papers (ed. by his son, W. McC. Griswold, 1898).

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