Edwin Hamlin Carr is an author about whom public information is limited: no reliable record survives of his birth and death years, nationality, or educational background, and he is known only through a small number of works listed in bibliographies. One title is held in this collection, Putnam's Phrase Book. Judging from its title and nature, it is a compilation of English phrases and idioms—a practical language reference for readers who need to look up everyday expressions and idiomatic usage. Such books are usually arranged by topic or situation, with attention to easy lookup and usage examples, and their compilers must be careful in organizing language material. Because biographical sources are scarce, Carr's personal history cannot be reconstructed, and his writing style and influence can only be glimpsed through the editorial format of this phrase handbook. On the whole, he appears to be an editor known for reference-book compilation rather than an author of original argument.
