Lorraine D. Hebler

Collection of Vintage Edgar A Guest Books

By Lorraine

Collection of vintage books by Edgar Albert Guest, an American poet became known as the People’s Poet with his quotes about home, family, country and more.
I am sharing my collection of vintage books filled with sweet poems by the prolific poet and journalist, Edgar A. Guest. Edgar was well liked for his poems and quotes about home, family, patriotism and country.

 This is a picture taken from the inside of one of the volumes.

 

Edgar A. Guest with his dog, Bismarck, in 1938

About Edgar A Guest

Edgar Albert Guest ( August 20, 1881, Birmingham, England – August 5, 1959, Detroit, Michigan) (aka Eddie Guest) was a prolific American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th Century and became known as the People’s Poet.
 
In 1891, Guest came with his family to the United States from England. After he began at the Detroit Free Press as a copy boy and then a reporter, his first poem appeared December 11, 1898. He became a naturalized citizen in 1902. For 40 years, Guest’s sentimental and optimistic poems were widely read throughout North America.
 
From his first published work in the Detroit Free Press until his death in 1959, Guest penned some 11,000 poems which were syndicated in some 300 newspapers and collected in more than 20 books, including A Heap o’ Livin’ (1916) and Just Folks (1917). Guest was made Poet Laureate of Michigan, the only poet to have been awarded the title. (wikipedia)
~*~
Collection of vintage books by Edgar Albert Guest, an American poet became known as the People’s Poet with his quotes about home, family, country and more.
 
Collection of vintage books by Edgar Albert Guest, an American poet became known as the People’s Poet with his quotes about home, family, country and more.
Most of these small books have a short inscription inside the cover, lovingly given as a gift to a dear recipient.
 
 
Collection of vintage books by Edgar Albert Guest, a prolific American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th Century and became known as the People’s Poet.Easy reading, full of everyday life, patriotism, being a person of character, love of family and home, God and faith. Up-lifting and encouraging, written in simple rhyme ~ old fashioned values and humble living make these poems endearing.

 

Collection of vintage books by Edgar Albert Guest, a prolific American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th Century and became known as the People’s Poet.

When you’re up against a trouble,
Meet it squarely, face to face,
Lift your chin, and set your shoulders,
Plant your feet and take a brace,
When it’s vain to try to dodge it,
Do the best that you can do.
You may fail, but you may conquer–
See it through!

–Excerpt from “See It Through”

Collection of vintage books by Edgar Albert Guest, a prolific American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th Century and became known as the People’s Poet.

 

Collection of vintage books by Edgar Albert Guest, a prolific American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th Century and became known as the People’s Poet.

So many sweet examples… here is just one:

When You Know A Fellow
Edgar A. Guest

When you get to know a fellow, know his joys and know his cares,

When you’ve come to understand him and the burdens that he bears,

When you’ve learned the fight he’s making and the troubles in his way,

Then you find that he is different than you thought him yesterday.

You find his faults are trivial and there’s not so much to blame

In the brother that you jeered at when you only knew his name.

You are quick to see the blemish in the distant neighbor’s style,

You can point to all his errors and may sneer at him the while,

And your prejudices fatten and your hates more violent grow

As you talk about the failures of the man you do not know,

But when drawn a little closer, and your hands and shoulders touch,

You find the traits you hated really don’t amount to much.

When you get to know a fellow, know his every mood and whim,

You begin to find the texture of the splendid side of him;

You begin to understand him, and you cease to scoff and sneer,

For with understanding always prejudices disappear.

You begin to find his virtues and his faults you cease to tell,

For you seldom hate a fellow when you know him very well.

When next you start in sneering and your phrases turn to blame,

Know more of him you censure than his business and his name;

For it’s likely that acquaintance would your prejudice dispel

And you’d really come to like him if you knew him very well.

When you get to know a fellow and you understand his ways,

Then his faults won’t really matter, for you’ll find a lot to praise.

From the book "A Heap o' Livin'" ©1916

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Comments

  1. michelle says

    Do you have the poem ” A Scout Leader’s Wife” in any of your books? I’m trying to locate the poem to see when it was written by Edgar A. Guest. Thanks!
    I’ve hunted, now to search through some librarians.

    Reply

    • Lorraine says

      Hello Michelle,

      I checked through my collection of books by Edgar Guest for the poem, A Scout Leader’s Wife but did not find any with that title. I did find a poem titled, The Scoutmaster in two of my books, copyrighted 1923.

      I also did a quick peruse on the net but didn’t come up with anything there. Hope you are soon able to find what you are looking for 🙂

      Kindly, Lorraine

      Reply

  2. T says

    Thanks for the great post.
    I just learned about Edgar Guest this last year. I can’t believe I had never heard of him before. (Perhaps I did when younger and then forgot; though I can’t believe I would forget such incredible poetry.)
    I want to buy some books of his but can’t find the contents of the books available.
    I specifically am looking for poems “Picture Books” and one of his about mothers—though it’s name escapes me just now.
    I guess I may have to check out library books and then buy.

    Reply

    • Lorraine says

      Hello, I am happy you came by the Edgar Guest post and found it helpful. I was able to get most of my books through eBay. I just did a quick search and saw some about “Mother.” You can ask the seller questions about the content before bidding. Hope this is helpful for you.

      Thank you for stopping by!
      Kindly, Lorraine

      Reply

  3. Lori Aletha says

    I always loved his poem When you get to know a fellow.
    I kept looking and trying to find it.
    Thank you for posting it.

    He sounds like someone I would really like to have as a neighbor.
    I like his philosophy.

    Reply

    • Lorraine says

      Hello Lori,

      Happy to hear you were finally able to find the poem. It has been a while since I read Edgar Guest’s work and your comment reminded me of it. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your comment.

      Kindly, Lorraine

      Reply

  5. marie says

    I grew up and Detroit and remember reading from (and enjoying) the Poems of Patriotism in high school.
    What a wonderful collection of books you have!

    Reply

  8. Mrs Twins says

    What an interesting post! Thanks so much for sharing. YOu do have beautiful girls!! My twin daughters are 23 such a pleasure. We do have twins in common. Guess what something else? I live in Birmingham England! Strange. I have to admit I haven't even heard of him, but I will definitely be checking his work out now.Thank you…..Hugs and Love Suex
    Please stop by again whenever you can!
    Hugs and Love Sue (Mrs Twins).x !

    Reply

  9. Miss Jen says

    Wonderful~ Thank you for sharing~ dear Mrs.H!
    I will have to put these on my 'to-read' list!!!
    Aren't old books scrumptious?! The
    bindings are amazing!!!! 🙂

    Love & Blessings~ Miss Jen

    Reply

  14. Diann @ the Thrifty Groove says

    Hi!

    I remember back in college working on a piece about Mr. Guest. Being from Michigan, he was always a fav of ours!
    One of my favorite poems is:
    It don't make a difference how rich ye get t' be'
    How much yer chairs and tables cost, how great the luxury;
    It ain't home t' ye, though it be the palace of a king,
    Until somehow yer soul is sort o' wrapped round everything.
    Within the walls there's got t' be some babies born an' then…
    Right there ye've got t' bring em up t' women good, an' men;
    Home ain't a place that gold can buy or get up in a minute;
    Afore it's home there's got t' be a heap o' living in it."

    This is just a little bit of the poem called
    "Home," A Heap o' Livin' (1916)

    Thanks for reminding me of this great writer! It's been awhile since I have read him.

    Reply

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