Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) was an American poet, essayist, and playwright. She is best known for her poem "The New Colossus," which is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty. Lazarus was born in New York City to a wealthy Jewish family. She was educated at home and began writing poetry at a young age. Her first published work was a poem in the New York Times in 1866. Lazarus was a passionate advocate for Jewish refugees and immigrants. She wrote several essays and poems on the subject, including "The New Colossus," which was written in 1883. The poem was later inscribed on the Statue of Liberty in 1903. Lazarus was also a prominent figure in the American Jewish community. She was a founding member of the Hebrew Technical Institute and the Jewish Publication Society. Lazarus died of cancer in 1887 at the age of 38. Her legacy lives on in her writings and her advocacy for Jewish refugees and immigrants.
21 works on Textopian