Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Ella Wheeler Wilcox (November 5, 1850 – October 30, 1919) was an American author and poet. Her works include the collection Poems of Passion and the poem "Solitude", which contains the lines "Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone." Her autobiography, The Worlds and I, was published in 1918, a year before her death.

Early life and education

Ella Wheeler was born in 1850 on a farm in Johnstown, Wisconsin, east of Janesville, the youngest of four children. The family later moved north of Madison, after losing its wealth, as the result of her father's failed business aspirations and speculation. The household placed a strong emphasis on intellectual pursuits and valued careful use of the English language. During her childhood, Wilcox spent much of her time reading the books and newspapers available to her, including works such as The Arabian Nights, The Diverting History of John Gilpin, Gulliver's Travels, and most notably the plays of William Shakespeare (which later influenced her writing) in addition to the few other pieces of literature that were to be had in her home.

Around the age of 8, Wilcox turned to writing poetry as an outlet. When she was 13 years old, her first poem was published. After losing her subscription to The New York Mercury, and being unable to afford to resubscribe, Wilcox thought that if she could get a piece of literature published, she would at least receive a copy of the paper wherein her piece was printed. The piece that she submitted is lost, and Wilcox later admitted that she could not recall even the topic of the poem. Wilcox became known as a poet in her own state by the time she graduated from high school. She was educated in a country school and attended Madison University for one year before asking her mother to return home.