J. Berg Esenwein

Joseph Berg Esenwein (1867–1947) was a distinguished American editor, academic, and literary critic whose career bridged the worlds of theological ministry and professional authorship. Born in Philadelphia and educated at several institutions including Albright College and Lafayette College, Esenwein initially served as a minister and educational leader. He held the presidency of the Albright Collegiate Institute in the mid 1890s before transitioning into a prominent career in the publishing industry. His expertise in the mechanics of storytelling made him one of the most respected literary mentors of the early 20th century.

Esenwein is perhaps best remembered for his definitive contributions to the craft of writing. As the editor and manager of Lippincott's Magazine and later The Writer's Monthly, he shaped the standards for modern short fiction and periodical literature. He authored numerous foundational textbooks, including Writing the Short-Story (1909) and The Art of Versification, which provided rigorous, practical instruction for aspiring authors. Notably, he co-authored The Art of Public Speaking (1915) with a young Dale Carnegie, a work that helped establish the pedagogical framework for modern communication and self-improvement literature.

While his primary fame rested in secular literary circles and his tenure as a professor of English at the Pennsylvania Military College, Esenwein’s background in the ministry informed his creative output. He was a frequent contributor to the hymnody and devotional literature of his era, often focusing on the narrative power of spiritual stories. His work Children’s Stories and How to Tell Them (1917) reflected his belief that moral and spiritual truths were best conveyed through well-crafted, engaging storytelling. This multidisciplinary approach allowed him to serve as a bridge between traditional religious instruction and the emerging professional standards of the 20th-century media landscape.

Esenwein’s later years were spent in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he continued to lecture and edit, exerting a profound influence on the "Writer’s Monthly" community. He was a pioneer in recognizing the potential of new media, co-authoring a manual on "writing the photoplay" as early as 1913, during the infancy of the motion picture industry. He passed away in 1947 and was buried in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, leaving behind a legacy as a master of the written and spoken word who professionalized the art of storytelling for a generation of American writers and speakers.