I seem to have a special soft spot for creative rebels (Mae West being a really good example) and Elbert Hubbard is no exception.
He was a very well known and influential member of the Arts and Crafts movement in the U.S. back in the late 1800s and very early 1900s. His business, Roycroft Shops (part of his commune, Roycroft), produced beautiful and sometimes eccentric books (of which I have the honor of owning two). He was a philosopher of the common man (much like Mark Twain and Will Rogers, in my opinion) and a prolific writer. He was known for his rebellious political views as well as his ideas about art, crafts, and humanity.
His entrepreneurial spirit was off-set by his love for his fellow man. While he certainly spent a lot of time and effort in becoming financially successful, his efforts were always tempered by his ideals. I admire the way he went against the grain of society at the time, and followed his passions, and accepted the price of being considered an 'outsider'. It is very sad to me that he has been all but forgotten over the course of time.
Read more at Wikipedia: Elbert_Hubbard
