Carleton, Will, 1845-1912

Will Carleton (1845–1912) was an American poet known for narrative verse on rural themes. Public information about his life is limited, and only three of his works are held in this collection. His representative works include Farm Ballads, Farm Legends, and City Ballads, whose titles show that his writing consistently centered on country life and the urban scene. Carleton was skilled at depicting the everyday circumstances of ordinary people in accessible verse, with a plain style rich in local color and folk narrative. His works circulated widely among American readers of his time and offer vivid literary material for later generations to understand nineteenth-century American rural and urban life.