Noel Perrin
Encyclopedia
Noel Perrin was an American
essayist and a professor
at Dartmouth College
.
and grew up in Pelham Manor, New York
His parents both worked as advertising copywriters at the J. Walter Thompson Agency
. His mother, Blanche Chenery Perrin, was a career writer and the author of several novels. Perrin's mother was his inspiration to become a writer
.
Perrin was educated at the Woodberry Forest School
in Orange, Virginia
, and later at Williams College
, where he majored in English Literature
and graduating in 1949. He received a master's degree
from Duke University
in 1950, then served in the United States Army
. During the Korean War
he served as a forward observer in a field artillery
unit and was awarded the Bronze Star
.
at the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (1956–1959). Perrin further studied at Cambridge University, where he received a Master's of Literature degree in 1958.
Perrin joined the Dartmouth faculty in 1959 as an instructor in English, reaching the rank of full professor by 1970. He specialized in teaching modern poetry
, particularly that of Robert Frost
. He was a Fulbright
professor at Warsaw University in Poland
in 1970, and was twice a Guggenheim Fellow. He joined Dartmouth's Environmental Studies
Program in 1984 as an Adjunct Professor, teaching courses on a range of subjects.
He wrote essays for many publications and was a regular contributor to the Washington Post for more than 20 years, covering a wide variety of subjects. His Washington Post essays later were published as A Reader's Delight (1988), one of his 12 books. Mr. Perrin's later Washington Post columns about forgotten works of children's literature were collected in the book A Child's Delight (1997).
His second book, Dr. Bowdler
's Legacy: A History of Expurgated Books in England and America (1969), was nominated for the National Book Award
. His sixth book was Giving up the Gun: Japan
's Reversion to the Sword, 1543–1879.
In 1963 Perrin bought a farm in Thetford Center, Vermont
, which served him as home and grist for six books, including First Person Rural: Essays of a Sometime Farmer (1978). Perrin often wrote essays about rural
life in a similar fashion as Will Carleton
did with his poems. "He reveled in the rural life," said writer Reeve Lindbergh, whose sister Anne Spencer Lindbergh
was Perrin's third wife. "He was a fresh and unexpected, ethical, humane and charming voice for northern New England." Noel Perrin's second in his trilogy of essays on the practice and philosophy of country living, Second Person Rural (1980), provided practical advice for the "sometime" farmer. Perrin discussed how to use a peavey
, what to do with maple syrup
(besides pouring it over waffle
s), and how to replace a rototiller with a garden animal.
in 1990. He recounted his adventures driving his converted Ford Escort from the builder in California
home to Vermont in Solo: Life with an Electric Car (1992). One advantage of the car proved to be a rare reserved parking spot on campus—with its own electrical outlet. Perrin later put a solar panel
array on his barn roof.
Perrin once wrote to a friend: "I currently spend half my time teaching at Dartmouth, half farming and half writing. That this adds up to three halves I am all too aware." Perrin, who suffered from Shy-Drager syndrome, died at his farmhouse on November 21, 2004.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
essayist and a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
.
Early years
Perrin was born on September 18, 1927 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and grew up in Pelham Manor, New York
Pelham Manor, New York
Pelham Manor is a village located in Westchester County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 5,486. It is located in the town of Pelham.- Demographics :...
His parents both worked as advertising copywriters at the J. Walter Thompson Agency
JWT
JWT is one of the largest advertising agencies in the United States and the fourth-largest in the world. It is one of the key companies of Sir Martin Sorrell's WPP Group and is headquartered in New York. The global agency is led by Worldwide Chairman and Global CEO Bob Jeffrey who took over the...
. His mother, Blanche Chenery Perrin, was a career writer and the author of several novels. Perrin's mother was his inspiration to become a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Perrin was educated at the Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School is a private, all-male boarding school located in Woodberry Forest, Madison County, Virginia, in the United States. Woodberry's current enrollment is 402. Students come from 28 U.S...
in Orange, Virginia
Orange, Virginia
Orange is a town in Orange County, Virginia, United States. The population was 4,721 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Orange County...
, and later at Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, where he majored in English Literature
Literature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
and graduating in 1949. He received a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1950, then served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
he served as a forward observer in a field artillery
Field artillery
Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support armies in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
unit and was awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
.
Teaching and writing career
During the 1950s, Perrin taught English LiteratureLiterature
Literature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
at the Woman's College of the University of North Carolina (1956–1959). Perrin further studied at Cambridge University, where he received a Master's of Literature degree in 1958.
Perrin joined the Dartmouth faculty in 1959 as an instructor in English, reaching the rank of full professor by 1970. He specialized in teaching modern poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
, particularly that of Robert Frost
Robert Frost
Robert Lee Frost was an American poet. He is highly regarded for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American colloquial speech. His work frequently employed settings from rural life in New England in the early twentieth century, using them to examine complex social and...
. He was a Fulbright
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
professor at Warsaw University in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 1970, and was twice a Guggenheim Fellow. He joined Dartmouth's Environmental Studies
Environmental studies
Environmental studies is the academic field which systematically studies human interaction with the environment. It is a broad interdisciplinary field of study that includes the natural environment, built environment, and the sets of relationships between them...
Program in 1984 as an Adjunct Professor, teaching courses on a range of subjects.
He wrote essays for many publications and was a regular contributor to the Washington Post for more than 20 years, covering a wide variety of subjects. His Washington Post essays later were published as A Reader's Delight (1988), one of his 12 books. Mr. Perrin's later Washington Post columns about forgotten works of children's literature were collected in the book A Child's Delight (1997).
His second book, Dr. Bowdler
Thomas Bowdler
Thomas Bowdler was an English physician who published an expurgated edition of William Shakespeare's work, edited by his sister Harriet, intended to be more appropriate for 19th century women and children than the original....
's Legacy: A History of Expurgated Books in England and America (1969), was nominated for the National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
. His sixth book was Giving up the Gun: Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's Reversion to the Sword, 1543–1879.
In 1963 Perrin bought a farm in Thetford Center, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, which served him as home and grist for six books, including First Person Rural: Essays of a Sometime Farmer (1978). Perrin often wrote essays about rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
life in a similar fashion as Will Carleton
Will Carleton
William McKendree Carleton was an American poet. Carleton's poems were most often about his rural life.-Early years:...
did with his poems. "He reveled in the rural life," said writer Reeve Lindbergh, whose sister Anne Spencer Lindbergh
Anne Lindbergh
Anne Spencer Lindbergh , daughter of aviators/authors Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, was an American author, primarily of children's literature...
was Perrin's third wife. "He was a fresh and unexpected, ethical, humane and charming voice for northern New England." Noel Perrin's second in his trilogy of essays on the practice and philosophy of country living, Second Person Rural (1980), provided practical advice for the "sometime" farmer. Perrin discussed how to use a peavey
Peavey (tool)
A peavey or peavey hook is a logging tool consisting of a handle, generally from 30 to 50 inches long , with a metal spike protruding from the end. The spike is rammed into a log, then a hook grabs the log at a second location...
, what to do with maple syrup
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is a syrup usually made from the xylem sap of sugar maple, red maple, or black maple trees, although it can also be made from other maple species such as the bigleaf maple. In cold climates, these trees store starch in their trunks and roots before the winter; the starch is then...
(besides pouring it over waffle
Waffle
A waffle is a batter- or dough-based cake cooked in a waffle iron patterned to give a distinctive and characteristic shape. There are many variations based on the type and shape of the iron and the recipe used....
s), and how to replace a rototiller with a garden animal.
Interest in environmental matters
Perrin's interest in environmental matters, including alternative energy sources, led him to purchase an electric carElectric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...
in 1990. He recounted his adventures driving his converted Ford Escort from the builder in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
home to Vermont in Solo: Life with an Electric Car (1992). One advantage of the car proved to be a rare reserved parking spot on campus—with its own electrical outlet. Perrin later put a solar panel
Photovoltaic module
A solar panel is a packaged, connected assembly of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells...
array on his barn roof.
Perrin once wrote to a friend: "I currently spend half my time teaching at Dartmouth, half farming and half writing. That this adds up to three halves I am all too aware." Perrin, who suffered from Shy-Drager syndrome, died at his farmhouse on November 21, 2004.
His works
- A Passport Secretly Green (1961)
- Dr. Bowdler's Legacy: A History of Expurgated Books in England and America (1969)
- Vermont in All Weathers (1971)
- The Amateur Sugar Maker (1972)
- First Person Rural: Essays of a Sometime Farmer (1978)
- Giving up the Gun: Japan's Reversion to the Sword, 1543–1879 (1979)
- Second Person Rural: More Essays of a Sometime Farmer (1980)
- Third Person Rural: Further Essays of a Sometime Farmer (1983)
- Forever Virgin: The American View of America (1986, in AntaeusAntaeus (magazine)Antaeus was a literary quarterly founded by Daniel Halpern and Paul Bowles and edited by Daniel Halpern. It was originally published in Tangier, Morocco, but operations were later shifted to New York City. The first number appeared in the summer of 1970, the final issue in 1994...
) - A Reader's Delight (1988)
- Last Person Rural (1991)
- Solo: Life with an Electric Car (1992)
- A Child's Delight (1997)
- Best Person Rural: Essays of a Sometime Farmer (2006), edited by Terry S. Osborne