Oliver Bell Bunce (February 8, 1828 – May 15, 1890) was an American author, editor, and playwright.

Life

He was born in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

, in his youth he joined his uncle's stationery house Jansen & Bell. While connected with this house he began writing plays, several of which were brought out. ''Fate or the Prophecy'', a tragedy in blank verso, and ''Marco Bozzaris'' were played by James W. Wallack, and ''Love in '76'', a comedy, was played by

Laura Keene Laura Keene (20 July 1826 – 4 November 1873) was a British stage actress and theatre manager. In her twenty-year career, she became known as the first powerful female manager in New York. She is most famous for being the lead actress in ...

in the leading woman's role. He also wrote a series of historical sketches which were afterward collected and published in a volume entitled ''The Romance of the Revolution.'' In 1854 Bunce and his brother established a publishing house with the firm name of Bunce & Brother. This firm published

Ann S. Stephens Ann Sophia Stephens (March 10, 1810–August 20, 1886) was an American novelist and magazine editor. She was the author of dime novels and is credited as the progenitor of that genre. Early life Ann Sophia Stephens was born on March 30, 1 ...

's ''Monthly'' and Bunce acted as its editor. But the firm not being successful for lack of sufficient capital, was dissolved after a few years and he became manager of the publishing house of James G. Gregory, a position which he retained until some years after the death of the senior member of the firm. For a short time he was connected with the house of

Harper & Brothers Harper is an American publishing house, the flagship imprint of global publisher HarperCollins based in New York City. History J. & J. Harper (1817–1833) James Harper and his brother John, printers by training, started their book publishin ...

as literary reader. In 1867 he formed a connection with D. Appleton & Company, which continued until his death. When ''

Appletons' Journal ''Appletons' Journal'' was an American magazine of literature, science, and arts. Published by D. Appleton & Company and debuting on April 3, 1869, its first editor was Edward L. Youmans, followed by Robert Carter, Oliver Bell Bunce, and Charl ...

'' was established in 1869, Bunce was made associate editor, and upon the retirement of Robert Carter in 1872, he became its chief editor. Bunce also authored several books, novels, and essays of dramatic criticism. He died in New York City. After his death, his widow published articles and recipes under the name Mrs. Oliver Bell Bunce.

References

External links

* * 1828 births 1890 deaths 19th-century American dramatists and playwrights Writers from New York City American magazine editors {{US-playwright-stub