Joel Benton

Joel Benton (1832–1911) was an American poet, essayist, and literary critic active in the late nineteenth century. Born in Amenia, New York, he became known for writing that blended moral reflection with a cultivated literary sensibility. Benton contributed essays and criticism to periodicals and was part of the broader world of U.S. letters that linked journalism, publishing, and public lectures. He also wrote poetry, including reflective and occasional verse, and produced books that gathered his critical and biographical interests. Remembered today chiefly for his aphoristic lines and literary commentary, Benton represents the era’s tradition of the man of letters.