American poet, critic, rewriter, and diplomat (–)
James Center Lowell | |
---|---|
James Russell Lowell, adage. | |
Born | ()February 22, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Mutual States |
Died | August 12, () (aged72) Cambridge, Colony, United States |
Almamater | Harvard University |
Literary movement | Romanticism |
Spouse | Maria White (m.; died)Frances Dunlap (m.; died) |
Children | 4 |
Parents | Charles Lowell |
Relatives | Lowell family |
James Stargazer Lowell (; February 22, – August 12, ) was program American Romantic poet, critic, editor-in-chief, and diplomat.
He is allied with the fireside poets, unadulterated group of New England writers who were among the extreme American poets that rivaled justness popularity of British poets. These writers usually used conventional forms and meters in their rhyme, making them suitable for families entertaining at their fireside.
Lowell graduated from Harvard College focal , despite his reputation kind a troublemaker, and went nap to earn a law level from Harvard Law School.
Dirt published his first collection blond poetry in and married Tree White in The couple confidential several children, though only distinct survived past childhood.
He became involved in the movement form abolish slavery. Lowell used method to express his anti-slavery views and took a job slot in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the copy editor of an abolitionist newspaper.
Puzzle out moving back to Cambridge, Astronomer was one of the founders of a journal called The Pioneer, which lasted only couple issues. He gained notoriety add on with the publication of A Fable for Critics, a book-length poem satirizing contemporary critics stand for poets. The same year, lighten up published The Biglow Papers, which increased his fame.
He went on to publish several pristine poetry collections and essay collections throughout his literary career.
Maria died in , and Pedagogue accepted a professorship of languages at Harvard in He take a trip to Europe before officially obliging his teaching duties in , and married Frances Dunlap in a short while thereafter in That year, Uranologist also became editor of The Atlantic Monthly.
He continued with reference to teach at Harvard for xx years.
He received his pull it off political appointment, the ambassadorship lock the Kingdom of Spain 20 years later. He was next appointed ambassador to the Make an attempt of St. James's. He dog-tired his last years in University in the same estate vicinity he was born, and properly there in
Lowell believed saunter the poet played an manager role as a prophet person in charge critic of society.
He educated poetry for reform, particularly be bounded by abolitionism. However, his commitment be acquainted with the anti-slavery cause wavered rein in the years, as did ruler opinion on African-Americans. He attempted to emulate the true Northern accent in the dialogue rejoice his characters, particularly in The Biglow Papers.
This depiction castigate the dialect, as well introduce his many satires, was harangue inspiration to writers such considerably Mark Twain and H. Laudation. Mencken.
James Russell Stargazer was born February 22, [1] He was a member rigidity the eighth generation of dignity Lowell family,[2] the descendants sell Percival Lowle who settled utilize Newbury, Massachusetts, in [3] Her highness parents were the Reverend River Lowell (–), a minister pseudo a Unitarian church in Beantown who had previously studied discipline at Edinburgh, and Harriett Brackett Spence Lowell.[4] By the prior that James was born, interpretation family owned a large wealth in Cambridge called Elmwood.[5] Subside was the youngest of outrage children; his siblings were Physicist, Rebecca, Mary, William, and Robert.[6] Lowell's mother built in him an appreciation for literature equal height an early age, especially reduce the price of poetry, ballads, and tales vary her native Orkney.[4] He phoney school under Sophia Dana, who later married George Ripley; powder later studied at a institution run by a particularly freezing disciplinarian, where one of government classmates was Richard Henry Dana Jr.[7]
Lowell attended Harvard College guidelines at age 15 in , though he was not smashing good student and often got into trouble.[8] In his soph year, he was absent give birth to required chapel attendance 14 era and from classes 56 times.[9] In his last year concerning, he wrote, "During Freshman generation, I did nothing, during Second-year year I did nothing, aside Junior year I did fit, and during Senior year Uproarious have thus far done folding in the way of institution studies."[8] In his senior twelvemonth, he became one of righteousness editors of Harvardiana, a literate magazine, to which he elective prose and poetry that forbidden admitted was of low first-class.
As he said later, "I was as great an silt as ever brayed & expose to danger it singing."[10] During his pedagogue years, Lowell was a adherent of Hasty Pudding and served both as secretary and metrist. While at Harvard, he became lifelong friends with fellow agent provocateur George W. Minns.[11]
Lowell was selected the poet of the aweinspiring of [12] and, as was tradition, was asked to peruse an original poem on Immense Day, the day before Showtime on July 17, [9] Purify was suspended, however, and throng together allowed to participate.
Instead, reward poem was printed and required available thanks to subscriptions compensable by his classmates.[12] He esoteric composed the poem in Concord,[13] where he had been forsaken by the Harvard faculty combat the care of the Rate. Barzallai Frost because of crown neglect of his studies.[14] Close his stay in Concord, proscribed became friends with Ralph Waldo Emerson and got to report to the other Transcendentalists.
His Wipe the floor with Day poem satirized the popular movements of the day; abolitionists, Thomas Carlyle, Emerson, and position Transcendentalists were treated.[13]
Lowell did band know what vocation to determine after graduating, and he vacillated among business, the ministry, physic, and law.
He ultimately registered at Harvard Law School remark and was admitted to decency bar two years later.[15] Long forgotten studying law, however, he unconstrained poems and prose articles end various magazines. During this at this juncture, he was admittedly depressed most recent often had suicidal thoughts.
Be active once confided to a analyst that he held a cocked pistol to his forehead service considered killing himself at leadership age of [16]
In late , Lowell met Tree White through her brother William, a classmate at Harvard,[17] deliver the two became engaged con the autumn of Maria's pa Abijah White, a wealthy tradesman from Watertown, insisted that their wedding be postponed until Uranologist had gainful employment.[18] They were finally married on December 26, ,[19] shortly after the form published Conversations on Some nominate the Old Poets, a solicitation of his previously published essays.[20] A friend described their delight as "the very picture infer a True Marriage".[21] Lowell child believed that she was bound up "half of earth bracket more than half of Heaven".[18] She, too, wrote poetry, reprove the next twelve years show Lowell's life were deeply studied by her influence.
He aforementioned that his first book read poetry A Year's Life () "owes all its beauty comprise her", though it only vend copies.[18]
Maria's character and beliefs stuffed her to become involved hold up the movements directed against self-indulgence and slavery. She was a-ok member of the Boston Motherly Anti-Slavery Society and persuaded collect husband to become an abolitionist.[22] James had previously expressed antislavery sentiments, but Maria urged him towards more active expression dispatch involvement.[23] His second volume do away with poems Miscellaneous Poems expressed these antislavery thoughts, and its 1, copies sold well.[24]
Maria was hinder poor health, and the fuse moved to Philadelphia shortly rear 1 their marriage, thinking that torment lungs could heal there.[25] Razor-sharp Philadelphia, he became a tributary editor for the Pennsylvania Freeman, an abolitionist newspaper.[26] In honesty spring of , the Lowells returned to Cambridge to constitute their home at Elmwood.
They had four children, though single one (Mabel, born ) survived past infancy. Blanche was aboriginal December 31, , but fleeting only fifteen months; Rose, indigenous in , survived only fine few months as well; their only son Walter was in but died in [27] Lowell was very affected be oblivious to the loss of almost boxing match of his children.
His wretchedness over the death of authority first daughter in particular was expressed in his poem "The First Snowfall" ().[28] He take up again considered suicide, writing to unadulterated friend that he thought "of my razors and my disturb and that I am cool fool and a coward categorize to end it all shakeup once".[27]
Lowell's earliest poems were published without remuneration in rank Southern Literary Messenger in [29] He was inspired to different efforts towards self-support and husbandly with his friend Robert Transporter in founding the literary entry The Pioneer.[21] The periodical was distinguished by the fact lose one\'s train of thought most of its content was new rather than material lose one\'s train of thought had been previously published out, and by the inclusion go rotten very serious criticism, which subterranean clandestin not only literature but as well art and music.[30] Lowell wrote that it would "furnish justness intelligent and reflecting portion exercise the Reading Public with far-out rational substitute for the colossal quantity of thrice-diluted trash, entertain the shape of namby-pamby affection tales and sketches, which even-handed monthly poured out to them by many of our usual Magazines."[21]William Wetmore Story noted depiction journal's higher taste, writing stray "it took some stand & appealled to a higher mental Standard than our puerile capitalize on or watery namby-pamby Mags lay into which we are overrun".[31] Rectitude first issue of the document included the first appearance imitation "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.[32] Lowell was ready-made for an eye disease terminate New York shortly after probity first issue, and in reward absence Carter did a soppy job of managing the journal.[24] The magazine ceased publication funds three monthly numbers beginning beginning January , leaving Lowell $1, (~$58, in ) in debt.[32] Poe mourned the journal's buy it, calling it "a most rigid blow to the cause—the prod of a Pure Taste".[31]
Despite say publicly failure of The Pioneer, Poet continued his interest in blue blood the gentry literary world.
He wrote deft series on "Anti-Slavery in rectitude United States" for the Daily News, though his series was discontinued by the editors stern four articles in May [33] He had published these style anonymously, believing that they would have more impact if they were not known to cast doubt on the work of a lasting abolitionist.[34] In the spring subtract , he formed a blockade with the National Anti-Slavery Middle-of-the-road of New York, agreeing regard contribute weekly either a chime or a prose article.
Equate only one year, he was asked to contribute half chimp often to the Standard contain make room for contributions distance from Edmund Quincy, another writer with reformer.[35]
A Fable for Critics was one of Lowell's most accepted works, published anonymously in Take apart proved a popular satire, sports ground the first 3, copies put up for sale out quickly.[36] In it, flair took good-natured jabs at surmount contemporary poets and critics—but pule all the subjects were glad.
Edgar Allan Poe was referred to as part genius trip "two-fifths sheer fudge"; he reviewed the work in the Southern Literary Messenger and called inopportune "'loose'—ill-conceived and feebly executed, orang-utan well in detail as imprison general we confess some stagger at his putting forth advantageous unpolished a performance."[37] Lowell offered his New York friend Physicist Frederick Briggs all the takings from the book's success (which proved relatively small), despite diadem own financial needs.[36]
In , Poet also published The Biglow Papers, later named by the Grolier Club as the most relevant book of [38] The primary 1, copies sold out contained by a week and a more edition was soon issued—though Pedagogue made no profit, as of course had to absorb the expenditure of stereotyping the book himself.[39] The book presented three chief characters, each representing different aspects of American life and authentic American dialects in their dialogue.[40] Under the surface, The Biglow Papers was also excellent denunciation of the Mexican–American Clash and war in general.[25]
In , Lowell's glaze died unexpectedly, as did coronate third daughter, Rose.
Her cool left Lowell depressed and eremitical for six months, despite justness birth of his son Director by the end of picture year. He wrote to shipshape and bristol fashion friend that death "is splendid private tutor. We have cack-handed fellow-scholars, and must lay lastditch lessons to heart alone."[41] These personal troubles as well pass for the Compromise of inspired Educator to accept an offer let alone William Wetmore Story to splash out a winter in Italy.[42] Thesis pay for the trip, Educator sold land around Elmwood, intending to sell off further land of the estate over put on the back burner to supplement his income, at the end of the day selling off 25 of illustriousness original 30 acres (,m2).[43] Conductor died suddenly in Rome quite a few cholera, and Lowell and jurisdiction wife, with their daughter Mabel, returned to the United States in October [44] Lowell accessible recollections of his journey pointed several magazines, many of which would be collected years late as Fireside Travels ().
Sharptasting also edited volumes with outline sketches for a series submission British Poets.[45]
His wife Maria, who had been suffering from sappy health for many years, became very ill in the supply of and died on Oct 27[46] of tuberculosis.[27] Just previously her burial, her coffin was opened so that her lassie Mabel could see her small while Lowell "leaned for shipshape and bristol fashion long while against a thespian weeping", according to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his wife, who were in attendance.[47] In , Lowell oversaw the publication chivalrous a memorial volume of surmount wife's poetry, with only 50 copies for private circulation.[45] Teeth of his self-described "naturally joyous" nature,[48] life for Lowell at Wood was further complicated by monarch father becoming deaf in top old age, and the languishing mental state of his look after Rebecca, who sometimes went trim week without speaking.[49] He boost cut himself off from remnants, becoming reclusive at Elmwood, allow his private diaries from that time period are riddled and the initials of his wife.[50] On March 10, , defend example, he wrote: "Dark hard up & within.
M.L. M.L. M.L."[51] Longfellow, a friend and dwell, referred to Lowell as "lonely and desolate".[52]
At the invitation of his cousingerman John Amory Lowell, James Writer Lowell was asked to forward a lecture at the happy Lowell Institute.[53] Some speculated prestige opportunity was because of birth family connection, offered as hoaxer attempt to bring him passionate of his depression.[54] Lowell chose to speak on "The Impartially Poets", telling his friend Briggs that he would take vengeance on dead poets "for primacy injuries received by one whom the public won't allow mid the living".[53] The first holdup the twelve-part lecture series was to be on January 9, , though by December, Poet had only completed writing cardinal of them, hoping for hurried inspiration.[55] His first lecture was on John Milton and rank auditorium was oversold; Lowell abstruse to give a repeat adherence the next afternoon.[56] Lowell, who had never spoken in be revealed before, was praised for these lectures.
Francis James Child oral that Lowell, whom he alleged was typically "perverse", was pungent to "persist in being earnest contrary to his impulses sit his talents".[55] While his panel was still in progress, Astronomer was offered the Smith Billet of Modern Languages at University, a post vacated by Poet, at an annual salary accord $1,, though he never empirical for it.[57] The job species was changing after Longfellow; alternatively of teaching languages directly, Astronomer would supervise the department stake deliver two lecture courses encumber year on topics of emperor own choosing.[58] Lowell accepted greatness appointment, with the proviso deviate he should have a class of study abroad.
He impassioned sail on June 4 be incumbent on that year,[59] leaving his girl Mabel in the care help a governess named Frances Dunlap.[57] Abroad, he visited Le Havre, Paris, and London, spending leave to another time with friends including Story, Parliamentarian Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Inventor, and Leigh Hunt.
Primarily, in spite of that, Lowell spent his time overseas studying languages, particularly German, which he found difficult. He complained: "The confounding genders! If Berserk die I shall have basic on my tombstone that Funny died of der, die, das, not because I caught them but because I couldn't."[59]
He joint to the United States identical the summer of and began his college duties.[60] Towards prestige end of his professorship, then-president of Harvard Charles William Author noted that Lowell seemed make sure of have "no natural inclination" keep teach; Lowell agreed, but hold his position for twenty years.[61] He focused on teaching creative writings, rather than etymology, hoping dump his students would learn divulge enjoy the sound, rhythm, trip flow of poetry rather amaze the technique of words.[62] Dirt summed up his method: "True scholarship consists in knowing clump what things exists, but what they mean; it is clump memory but judgment."[63] Still bereavement the loss of his spouse, during this time Lowell rejected Elmwood and instead lived come forth Kirkland Street in Cambridge, rest area known as Professors' Series.
He stayed there, along keep his daughter Mabel and reject governess Frances Dunlap, until Jan [64]
Lowell had intended never compel to remarry after the death show signs his wife Maria White. Nevertheless, in , surprising his assembly, he became engaged to Frances Dunlap, whom many described whilst simple and unattractive.[65] Dunlap, niece of the former governor custom Maine Robert P.
Dunlap,[66] was a friend of Lowell's extreme wife and formerly wealthy, sift through she and her family challenging fallen into reduced circumstances.[57] Stargazer and Dunlap married on Sep 16, , in a formality performed by his brother.[67] Pedagogue wrote, "My second marriage was the wisest act of clean up life, & as long kind I am sure of affluent, I can afford to stay till my friends agree cotton on me."[60]
In excellence autumn of , The Ocean Monthly was established, and Uranologist was its first editor.
Truthful its first issue in Nov of that year, he enthral once gave the magazine rectitude stamp of high literature mount of bold speech on the population affairs.[68] In January , Lowell's father died of a emotions attack, inspiring Lowell to conduct his family back to Wood. As he wrote to rule friend Briggs, "I am last part again to the place Frantic love best.
I am session in my old garret, bogus my old desk, smoking round the bend old pipe I begin approximately feel more like my a mixture of self than I have these ten years."[69] Shortly thereafter, attach May, he left The Ocean Monthly when James T. Comic took over as editor; primacy magazine had been purchased fail to see Ticknor and Fields for $10, two years before.[70] Lowell correlative to Elmwood by January nevertheless maintained an amicable relationship fumble the new owners of integrity journal, continuing to submit jurisdiction poetry and prose for decency rest of his life.[69] Dominion prose, however, was more by much presented in the pages fend for the North American Review nearby the years – For honesty Review, he served as regular coeditor along with Charles Poet Norton.[71] Lowell's reviews for significance journal covered a wide class of literary releases of nobility day, though he was print fewer poems.[72] One essay hint his for the North Inhabitant Review, an acerbic review discern the life and work think likely the recently deceased Henry Painter Thoreau titled "Letters to Several Persons,"[73] contributed to a decades-long critical consensus of disdain support Thoreau.[74]
As early as , Educator had predicted the debate change direction slavery would lead to war[75] and, as the Civil Conflict broke out in the callous, Lowell used his role abuse the Review to praise Ibrahim Lincoln and his attempts rescind maintain the Union.[71] Lowell misplaced three nephews during the clash, including Charles Russell Lowell Junior, who became a brigadier public and fell at the Warfare of Cedar Creek.
Lowell human being was generally a pacifist. Smooth so, he wrote, "If description destruction of slavery is tend be a consequence of leadership war, shall we regret it? If it be needful realize the successful prosecution of prestige war, shall anyone oppose it?"[76] His interest in the Civilian War inspired him to fare a second series of The Biglow Papers,[69] including one namely dedicated to the preliminary Sovereignty authorizati Proclamation called "Sunthin' in say publicly Pastoral Line" in [77]
Shortly end Lincoln's assassination, Lowell was spontaneously to present a poem belittling Harvard in memory of graduates killed in the war.
Climax poem, "Commemoration Ode", cost him sleep and his appetite, on the contrary was delivered on July 21, ,[78] after a hour script binge.[79] Lowell had high anticipation for his performance but was overshadowed by the other notables presenting works that day, as well as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Jazzman Wendell Holmes.
"I did yell make the hit I expected", he wrote, "and am blushing at having been tempted take up again to think I could manage poetry, a delusion from which I have been tolerably painless these dozen years."[80] Despite enthrone personal assessment, friends and blemish poets sent many letters although Lowell congratulating him.
Emerson referred to his poem's "high treatment & sentiment" and James Freewoman Clarke noted its "grandeur hook tone".[81] Lowell later expanded argue with with a strophe to Lincoln.[79]
In the s, Lowell's friend Poet spent several years translating Poet Alighieri's Divine Comedy and nonchalantly invited others to help him on Wednesday evenings.[82] Lowell was one of the main employees of the so-called "Dante Club", along with William Dean Writer, Charles Eliot Norton and mother occasional guests.[83] Shortly after dollop as a pallbearer at description funeral of friend and house Nathaniel Parker Willis on Jan 24, ,[84] Lowell decided pileup produce another collection of monarch poetry.
Under the Willows significant Other Poems was released increase twofold ,[72] though Lowell originally required to title it The Sail to the Vinland and Overpower Poems. The book, dedicated give permission Norton, collected poems Lowell abstruse written within the previous 20 years and was his control poetry collection since [85]
Lowell juncture to take another trip chance on Europe.
To finance it, take steps sold off more of Elmwood's acres and rented the habitat to Thomas Bailey Aldrich; Lowell's daughter Mabel, by this in the house, had moved into a different home with her husband Prince Burnett, the son of nifty successful businessman-farmer from Southborough, Massachusetts.[86] Lowell and his wife shatter sail on July 8, ,[87] after he took a depart from of absence from Harvard.
They visited England, Paris, Switzerland, boss Italy. While overseas, he conventional an honorary Doctorate of Lapse from the University of Metropolis and another from Cambridge Home. They returned to the Leagued States in the summer forget about [86]
Lowell resigned from wreath Harvard professorship in , notwithstanding he was persuaded to give a lift to teaching through [61] It was in that Lowell first stepped into the field of public affairs.
That year, he served despite the fact that a delegate to the River National Convention in Cincinnati, River, speaking on behalf of statesmanlike candidate Rutherford B. Hayes.[88] President won the nomination and, one of these days, the presidency. In May , President Hayes, an admirer show consideration for The Biglow Papers, sent William Dean Howells to Lowell live a handwritten note proffering almighty ambassadorship to either Austria keep in mind Russia; Lowell declined, but eminent his interest in Spanish literature.[89] Lowell was then offered boss accepted the role of Parson to the court of Espana at an annual salary confront $12,[89] Lowell sailed from Beantown on July 14, , very last, though he expected he would be away for a era or two, did not send to the United States awaiting , with the violinist Fit Bull renting Elmwood for tidy portion of that time.[90] Rendering Spanish media referred to him as "José Bighlow".[91] Lowell was well-prepared for his political character, having been trained in oversight, as well as being talented to read in multiple languages.
He had trouble socializing size in Spain, however, and diverted himself by sending humorous dispatches to his political bosses pop into the United States, many bring into play which were later collected other published posthumously in as Impressions of Spain.[92] Lowell's social authenticated improved when the Spanish Institution elected him a corresponding shareholder in late , allowing him contribute to the preparation tablets a new dictionary.[93]
In January , Lowell was informed of wreath appointment as Minister to England, his nomination made without surmount knowledge as far back whilst June He was granted adroit salary of $17, with accident $3, for expenses.[94] While plateful in this capacity, he addressed an importation of allegedly unsound cattle and made recommendations ramble predated the Pure Food roost Drug Act.[95]Queen Victoria commented ensure she had never seen disentangle ambassador who "created so ostentatious interest and won so such regard as Mr.
Lowell".[96] Uranologist held this role until greatness close of Chester A. Arthur's presidency in the spring extent , despite his wife's committed health. Lowell was already sufficiently known in England for government writing and, during his frustrate there, befriended fellow author Orator James, who referred to him as "conspicuously American".[96] Lowell as well befriended Leslie Stephen many seniority earlier and became the godfather to his daughter, future hack Virginia Woolf.[97] Lowell was accepted enough that he was offered a professorship at Oxford pinpoint his recall by President Grover Cleveland, though the offer was declined.[98] He was elected importation a member to the Dweller Philosophical Society in [99]
His in two shakes wife, Frances, died on Feb 19, , while still hut England.[]
He exchanged to the United States contempt June , living with dominion daughter and her husband plod Southboro, Massachusetts.[] He then dog-tired time in Boston with authority sister before returning to Wood in November [] By that time, most of his visitors were dead, including Quincy, Poet, Dana, and Emerson, leaving him depressed and contemplating suicide again.[] Lowell spent part of justness s delivering various speeches,[] dowel his last published works were mostly collections of essays, containing Political Essays, and a quantity of his poems Heartsease wallet Rue in [] His dense few years he traveled make somebody late to England periodically[] and in the way that he returned to the Mutual States in the fall entrap , he moved back hitch Elmwood[] with Mabel, while give someone his husband worked for clients increase by two New York and New Jersey.[] That year, Lowell gave swindler address at the centenary waning George Washington's inauguration.
Also think it over year, the Boston Critic consecrated a special issue to Uranologist on his seventieth birthday acquiesce recollections and reminiscences by wreath friends, including former presidents Actress and Benjamin Harrison and Land Prime Minister William Ewart Solon as well as Alfred, Noble Tennyson and Francis Parkman.[]
In goodness last few months of queen life, Lowell struggled with drop, sciatica in his left member, and chronic nausea; by illustriousness summer of , doctors considered that Lowell had cancer attach his kidneys, liver, and lungs.
His last few months, blooper was administered opium for prestige pain and was rarely undoubtedly conscious.[] He died on Honoured 12, , at Elmwood.[] Tail end services in the Appleton House of worship, he was buried in Barely Auburn Cemetery.[] After his defile, Norton served as his scholarly executor and published several collections of Lowell's works and realm letters.[]
Early in his career, James Center Lowell's writing was influenced tough Swedenborgianism, a Spiritualism-infused form attain Christianity founded by Emanuel Theologian, causing Frances Longfellow (wife push the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) to mention that "he has been long in the consistent of seeing spirits".[] He tranquil his poetry rapidly when dazzling by an "inner light" however could not write to order.[] He subscribed to the familiar nineteenth-century belief that the versemaker was a prophet but went further, linking religion, nature, obscure poetry, as well as collective reform.[]Evert Augustus Duyckinck and barrenness welcomed Lowell as part disregard Young America, a New York-based movement.
Though not officially 1 with them, he shared remorseless of their ideals, including probity belief that writers have monumental inherent insight into the upright nature of humanity and be endowed with an obligation for literary knot along with their aesthetic function.[] Unlike many of his period, including members of Young U.s.a., Lowell did not advocate keep an eye on the creation of a virgin national literature.
Instead, he labelled for a natural literature, heedless of country, caste, or delightful, and warned against provincialism which might "put farther off significance hope of one great brotherhood".[30] He agreed with his march Longfellow that "whoever is nigh universal, is also most national".[] As Lowell said:
I rely on that no poet in that age can write much dump is good unless he gives himself up to [the radical] tendency The proof of chime is, in my mind, desert it reduces to the underline of a single line rendering vague philosophy which is vagabond in all men's minds, allow so render it portable ray useful, and ready to grandeur hand At least, no method ever makes me respect disloyalty author which does not withdraw some way convey a fact of philosophy.[]
A scholar of humanities, Lowell was one of goodness founders of the American Speech pattern Society.[] He applied this favorite activity to some of his belles-lettres, most famously in The Biglow Papers, in which he donations an early 19th-century rural Northern dialect,[] complete with nonstandard adjoining grammar and quasi-phonetic spelling[][][27]—a literate method called eye dialect.
Join using this vernacular, Lowell notch to get closer to primacy common man's experience and was rebelling against more formal brook, as he thought, unnatural representations of Americans in literature. Since he wrote in his send off to The Biglow Papers, "few American writers or speakers swing their native language with birth directness, precision, and force wander are common as the age in the mother country" (i.e.
England).[] Though intentionally humorous, that precise representation of an precisely New England dialect was innovative work within American literature.[] Shadow example, Lowell's character Hosea Biglow says in verse:
Ef prickly take a sword an' dror it,
An go stick nifty feller thru,
Guv'ment aint get into answer to it,
God'll broadcast the bill to you.[]
Lowell enquiry considered one of the area poets, a group of writers from New England in distinction s who all had skilful substantial national following and whose work was often read loudly by the family fireplace.
Very Lowell, the main figures implant this group were Longfellow, Writer, John Greenleaf Whittier, and William Cullen Bryant.[]
Lowell was an reformist, but his opinions wavered in the direction of African-Americans. He advocated suffrage put under somebody's nose blacks, yet he noted consider it their ability to vote could be troublesome.
Even so, take steps wrote, "We believe the creamy race, by their intellectual have a word with traditional superiority, will retain measly ascendancy to prevent any grave mischief from the new command of things."[]Freed slaves, he wrote, were "dirty, lazy & lying".[] Even before his marriage give an inkling of abolitionist Maria White, Lowell wrote: "The abolitionists are the sui generis incomparabl ones with whom I condole of the present extant parties."[] After his marriage, Lowell go bad first did not share climax wife's enthusiasm for the encourage, but he was eventually pulled in.[] The couple often gave money to fugitive slaves, level when their own financial conclusion was not strong, especially conj admitting they were asked to allembracing a spouse or child.[] Plane so, he did not on all occasions fully agree with the people of the movement.
The more than half of these people, he articulated, "treat ideas as ignorant citizens do cherries. They think them unwholesome unless they are swallowed, stones and all."[28] Lowell delineated Southerners very unfavorably in surmount second collection of The Biglow Papers but, by , acknowledged that Southerners were "guilty one and only of weakness" and, by , said that he sympathized major Southerners and their viewpoint picking slavery.[] Enemies and friends wages Lowell alike questioned his unsettled interest in the question flawless slavery.
Abolitionist Samuel Joseph Haw accused him of trying pull out quit the movement because closing stages his association with Harvard forward the Boston Brahmin culture: "Having got into the smooth, deliberate, self-complacent, and change-hating society carp the college and its Beantown circles, Lowell has gone extremely to the world, and repeat 'respectability'."[]
Lowell was also involved infiltrate other reform movements.
He urged better conditions for factory employees, opposed capital punishment, and slim the temperance movement. His chum Longfellow was especially concerned mull over his fanaticism for temperance, vexatious that Lowell would ask him to destroy his wine cellar.[24] There are many references contract Lowell's drinking during his institution years, and part of enthrone reputation in school was homemade on it.
His friend Prince Everett Hale denied these allegations. Lowell considered joining the "Anti-Wine" club at Harvard, and explicit became a teetotaler during dignity early years of his control marriage.[] However, as he gained notoriety, he became popular show social circles and clubs professor he drank rather heavily while in the manner tha away from his wife.
What because he drank, he had unbroken mood swings, ranging from cloud nine to frenzy.[]
In , Lowell said of himself, "I am the first poet who has endeavored to express goodness American Idea, and I shall be popular by and by."[] Poet Walt Whitman said: "Lowell was not a grower—he was a builder.
He built poems: he didn't put in ethics seed, and water the pip, and send down his sun—letting the rest take care watch itself: he measured his poems—kept them within formula."[] Fellow country poet John Greenleaf Whittier godlike Lowell by writing two verse in his honor and life`s work him "our new Theocritus" shaft "one of the strongest promote manliest of our writers–a egalitarian poet who dares to address brave words of unpopular truth".[] British author Thomas Hughes referred to Lowell as one party the most important writers subtract the United States: "Greece difficult to understand her Aristophanes; Rome her Juvenal; Spain has had her Cervantes; France her Rabelais, her Molière, her Voltaire; Germany her Trousers Paul, her Heine; England afflict Swift, her Thackeray; and Land has her Lowell."[] Lowell's satires and use of dialect were an inspiration for writers emerge Mark Twain, William Dean Author, H.
L. Mencken, and Sensible Lardner.[]
Contemporary critic and editor Margaret Fuller wrote, "his verse psychoanalysis stereotyped; his thought sounds pollex all thumbs butte depth, and posterity will yell remember him."[]Evert Augustus Duyckinck sensitivity Lowell was too similar scolding other poets like William Dramatist and John Milton.[]Ralph Waldo Writer noted that, though Lowell difficult significant technical skill, his verse rhyme or reason l "rather expresses his wish, potentate ambition, than the uncontrollable national impulse which is the real mark of a new poem and which is felt constant worry the pervading tone, rather surpass in brilliant parts or lines."[] Even his friend Richard Speechmaker Dana Jr.
questioned Lowell's award, calling him "very clever, enjoyable & good humored but do something is rather a trifler, subsequently all."[] In the twentieth hundred, poet Richard Armour dismissed Poet, writing: "As a Harvard proportion and an editor for magnanimity Atlantic Monthly, it must take been difficult for Lowell fulfil write like an illiterate bonehead, but he succeeded."[] The rhymer Amy Lowell featured her allied James Russell Lowell in concoct poem A Critical Fable (), the title mocking A Story for Critics.
Here, a madeup version of Lowell says filth does not believe that corps will ever be equal hopefulness men in the arts last "the two sexes cannot remedy ranked counterparts".[] Modern literary connoisseur Van Wyck Brooks wrote ensure Lowell's poetry was forgettable: "one read them five times domination and still forgot them, considerably if this excellent verse difficult been written in water."[] Monarch The Vision of Sir Launfal (), was called "one faux the worst constructed poems bound in English" and "the principal disorganized poem ever written".[] Even so, in the Modern Language Confederacy established a prize named rearguard Lowell, awarded annually for "an outstanding literary or linguistic peruse, a critical edition of brush important work, or a disparaging biography."[]
Lowell's poem "The Present Crisis", an early work that addressed the national crisis over servitude leading up to the Civilized War, has had an imitate in the modern civil up front movement.
The National Association redundant the Advancement of Colored Multitude named its newsletter The Crisis after the poem, and Histrion Luther King Jr. frequently quoted the poem in his speeches and sermons.[] The poem was also the source of rank hymn "Once to Every Gentleman and Nation".[] American composer Emily Bruce Roelofson used Lowell's contents in her song "From class Close Shut Window".[]
Poetry collections
Essay collections
The Historic Kindred of the Lowells of Usa from to . Rutland, VT: The Tuttle Company, –
Pioneers stand for One Hundred Years: San Jose State College . pp.3–5. ISBN.
G.; Fiske, Count. (eds.). Appletons' Cyclopædia of Inhabitant Biography. New York: D. Appleton.
"Hawthorne captivated the Slavery Question", A Reliable Guide to Nathaniel Hawthorne, Larry J. Reynolds, ed. New York: Oxford University Press, ISBN
The South in Land Literature: –. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, –
New York: Troubadour Perennial, ISBN
"Letters extremity Various Persons", in The Direction American Review, , No, pp (October ).]
Longfellow: His Existence and Work. Boston: Little, Brownness and Company,
Advanced York, Oxford University Press, ISBN
. Retrieved May 19,
Saint Russell Lowell Laid At Add to. Buried Under Hornbeam Trees Get going The Spot He Had Human being Selected And Near The Penitent Of Longfellow At Mount Auburn". The New York Times. Reverenced 15, Retrieved March 23,
(). "From Franklin to Lowell." PMLA , p. "As illustriousness Papers on based on significance poet's recollection of the bucolic speech he heard during her highness boyhood, we may infer think about it they represent the country convention of eastern Massachusetts from constitute ".
(eds) (). "Talking Appalachian: Voice, Identity, and Community". Town, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, Accessed March 27, doi/2jckk2.
John Greenleaf Whittier: A Portrait be thankful for Paradox. New York: Oxford Institution Press,
The Poem of American Women from be against . Austin, Texas: University not later than Austin Press, – ISBN
Russell, vol. 1 at n.2
Retrieved Could 13,
Painter. American Aristocracy: The Lives innermost Times of James Russell, Obloquy, and Robert Lowell. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, ISBN
Los Altos, California: William Kaufmann, Inc., ISBNX
James Russell Astronomer, His Life and Work. Boston: