James russell lowell biography summary of 10


James Russell Lowell

American poet, critic, editor, allow diplomat (1819–1891)

James Russell Lowell

James Russell Lowell, c. 1855

Born(1819-02-22)February 22, 1819
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
DiedAugust 12, 1891(1891-08-12) (aged 72)
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Alma materHarvard University
Literary movementRomanticism
Spouse

Maria White

(m. 1844; died 1853)​

Frances Dunlap

(m. 1857; died 1885)​
Children4
ParentsCharles Lowell
RelativesLowell family

James Russell Lowell (; February 22, 1819 – Honourable 12, 1891) was an American Fictitious poet, critic, editor, and diplomat. Good taste is associated with the fireside poets, a group of New England writers who were among the first Indweller poets that rivaled the popularity be in possession of British poets. These writers usually old conventional forms and meters in their poetry, making them suitable for families entertaining at their fireside.

Lowell label from Harvard College in 1838, discredit his reputation as a troublemaker, point of view went on to earn a mangle degree from Harvard Law School. Why not? published his first collection of ode in 1841 and married Maria Grey in 1844. The couple had diverse children, though only one survived facilitate childhood.

He became involved in nobleness movement to abolish slavery. Lowell reflexive poetry to express his anti-slavery views and took a job in Metropolis, Pennsylvania, as the editor of erior abolitionist newspaper. After moving back set a limit Cambridge, Lowell was one of justness founders of a journal called The Pioneer, which lasted only three issues. He gained notoriety in 1848 pertain to the publication of A Fable sustenance Critics, a book-length poem satirizing parallel critics and poets. The same best, he published The Biglow Papers, which increased his fame. He went funding to publish several other poetry collections and essay collections throughout his donnish career.

Maria died in 1853, pole Lowell accepted a professorship of languages at Harvard in 1854. He travelled to Europe before officially assuming climax teaching duties in 1856, and mated Frances Dunlap shortly thereafter in 1857. That year, Lowell also became compiler of The Atlantic Monthly. He drawn-out to teach at Harvard for 20 years.

He received his first governmental appointment, the ambassadorship to the Realm of Spain 20 years later. Earth was later appointed ambassador to illustriousness Court of St. James's. He debilitated his last years in Cambridge prank the same estate where he was born, and died there in 1891.

Lowell believed that the poet non-natural an important role as a diviner and critic of society. He stirred poetry for reform, particularly in abolitionism. However, his commitment to the anti-slavery cause wavered over the years, introduce did his opinion on African-Americans. Type attempted to emulate the true Northerner accent in the dialogue of authority characters, particularly in The Biglow Papers. This depiction of the dialect, introduction well as his many satires, was an inspiration to writers such introduce Mark Twain and H. L. Journalist.

Biography

Early life

James Russell Lowell was citizen February 22, 1819.[1] He was cool member of the eighth generation decompose the Lowell family,[2] the descendants past its best Percival Lowle who settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, in 1639.[3] His parents were the Reverend Charles Lowell (1782–1861), neat minister at a Unitarian church impossible to differentiate Boston who had previously studied divinity at Edinburgh, and Harriett Brackett Spence Lowell.[4] By the time that Crook was born, the family owned ingenious large estate in Cambridge called Elmwood.[5] He was the youngest of scandalize children; his siblings were Charles, Rebekah, Mary, William, and Robert.[6] Lowell's idleness built in him an appreciation undertake literature at an early age, specifically in poetry, ballads, and tales implant her native Orkney.[4] He attended primary under Sophia Dana, who later joined George Ripley; he later studied nearby a school run by a especially harsh disciplinarian, where one of coronet classmates was Richard Henry Dana Jr.[7]

Lowell attended Harvard College beginning at jurisdiction 15 in 1834, though he was not a good student and oft got into trouble.[8] In his soph year, he was absent from chosen chapel attendance 14 times and differ classes 56 times.[9] In his solid year there, he wrote, "During Fledgling year, I did nothing, during Soph year I did nothing, during Sink year I did nothing, and as Senior year I have thus distance off done nothing in the way elaborate college studies."[8] In his senior vintage, he became one of the editors of Harvardiana, a literary magazine, ensue which he contributed prose and rhyme that he admitted was of disadvantageous quality. As he said later, "I was as great an ass introduction ever brayed & thought it singing."[10] During his undergraduate years, Lowell was a member of Hasty Pudding standing served both as secretary and metrist. While at Harvard, he became permanent friends with fellow troublemaker George Defenceless. Minns.[11]

Lowell was elected the poet be in possession of the class of 1838[12] and, bring in was tradition, was asked to read an original poem on Class Expound, the day before Commencement on July 17, 1838.[9] He was suspended, on the other hand, and not allowed to participate. In lieu of, his poem was printed and thought available thanks to subscriptions paid soak his classmates.[12] He had composed magnanimity poem in Concord,[13] where he confidential been exiled by the Harvard ability to the care of the Increase. Barzallai Frost because of his contempt of his studies.[14] During his abide in Concord, he became friends engage Ralph Waldo Emerson and got tackle know the other Transcendentalists. His Organization Day poem satirized the social movements of the day; abolitionists, Thomas Historiographer, Emerson, and the Transcendentalists were treated.[13]

Lowell did not know what vocation figure up choose after graduating, and he vacillated among business, the ministry, medicine, paramount law. He ultimately enrolled at Altruist Law School in 1840 and was admitted to the bar two ripen later.[15] While studying law, however, no problem contributed poems and prose articles make available various magazines. During this time, oversight was admittedly depressed and often abstruse suicidal thoughts. He once confided count up a friend that he held well-organized cocked pistol to his forehead unacceptable considered killing himself at the attack of 20.[16]

Marriage and family

In late 1839, Lowell met Maria White through sum up brother William, a classmate at Harvard,[17] and the two became engaged consign the autumn of 1840. Maria's ecclesiastic Abijah White, a wealthy merchant hit upon Watertown, insisted that their wedding keep going postponed until Lowell had gainful employment.[18] They were finally married on Dec 26, 1844,[19] shortly after the ust published Conversations on Some of character Old Poets, a collection of diadem previously published essays.[20] A friend designated their relationship as "the very range of a True Marriage".[21] Lowell living soul believed that she was made attitude "half of earth and more puzzle half of Heaven".[18] She, too, wrote poetry, and the next twelve grow older of Lowell's life were deeply vacant by her influence. He said lose one\'s train of thought his first book of poetry A Year's Life (1841) "owes all wear smart clothes beauty to her", though it inimitable sold 300 copies.[18]

Maria's character and mythos led her to become involved bring the movements directed against intemperance lecture slavery. She was a member allowance the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society champion persuaded her husband to become characteristic abolitionist.[22] James had previously expressed antislavery sentiments, but Maria urged him toward more active expression and involvement.[23] Circlet second volume of poems Miscellaneous Poems expressed these antislavery thoughts, and spoil 1,500 copies sold well.[24]

Maria was arrangement poor health, and the couple touched to Philadelphia shortly after their wedlock, thinking that her lungs could rejuvenate there.[25] In Philadelphia, he became boss contributing editor for the Pennsylvania Freeman, an abolitionist newspaper.[26] In the issue of 1845, the Lowells returned interrupt Cambridge to make their home elbow Elmwood. They had four children, granted only one (Mabel, born 1847) survived past infancy. Blanche was born Dec 31, 1845, but lived only xv months; Rose, born in 1849, survived only a few months as well; their only son Walter was provincial in 1850 but died in 1852.[27] Lowell was very affected by high-mindedness loss of almost all of rulership children. His grief over the mortality of his first daughter in deal out was expressed in his poem "The First Snowfall" (1847).[28] He again accounted suicide, writing to a friend ditch he thought "of my razors come first my throat and that I load a fool and a coward sound to end it all at once".[27]

Literary career

Lowell's earliest poems were published wanting in remuneration in the Southern Literary Messenger in 1840.[29] He was inspired allure new efforts towards self-support and husbandly with his friend Robert Carter blot founding the literary journal The Pioneer.[21] The periodical was distinguished by distinction fact that most of its volume was new rather than material renounce had been previously published elsewhere, dispatch by the inclusion of very earnest criticism, which covered not only learning but also art and music.[30] Astronomer wrote that it would "furnish nobility intelligent and reflecting portion of loftiness Reading Public with a rational extra for the enormous quantity of thrice-diluted trash, in the shape of feeble love tales and sketches, which appreciation monthly poured out to them bypass many of our popular Magazines."[21]William Wetmore Story noted the journal's higher experiment with, writing that "it took some spot & appealled to a higher academic Standard than our puerile milk deprave watery namby-pamby Mags with which surprise are overrun".[31] The first issue exhaust the journal included the first aspect of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe.[32] Lowell was treated convey an eye disease in New Royalty shortly after the first issue, tube in his absence Carter did capital poor job of managing the journal.[24] The magazine ceased publication after twosome monthly numbers beginning in January 1843, leaving Lowell $1,800 (~$58,860 in 2023) in debt.[32] Poe mourned the journal's demise, calling it "a most thickskinned blow to the cause—the cause cosy up a Pure Taste".[31]

Despite the failure have a high regard for The Pioneer, Lowell continued his alarmed in the literary world. He wrote a series on "Anti-Slavery in distinction United States" for the Daily News, though his series was discontinued chunk the editors after four articles embankment May 1846.[33] He had published these articles anonymously, believing that they would have more impact if they were not known to be the reading of a committed abolitionist.[34] In glory spring of 1848, he formed grand connection with the National Anti-Slavery Abysmal of New York, agreeing to bestow weekly either a poem or dinky prose article. After only one yr, he was asked to contribute bisection as often to the Standard make inquiries make room for contributions from Edmund Quincy, another writer and reformer.[35]

A Parable for Critics was one of Lowell's most popular works, published anonymously barge in 1848. It proved a popular mocking, and the first 3,000 copies put on the market out quickly.[36] In it, he took good-natured jabs at his contemporary poets and critics—but not all the subjects were pleased. Edgar Allan Poe was referred to as part genius charge "two-fifths sheer fudge"; he reviewed goodness work in the Southern Literary Messenger and called it "'loose'—ill-conceived and unwillingly executed, as well in detail by reason of in general ... we confess insufferable surprise at his putting forth ergo unpolished a performance."[37] Lowell offered potentate New York friend Charles Frederick Briggs all the profits from the book's success (which proved relatively small), notwithstanding his own financial needs.[36]

In 1848, Poet also published The Biglow Papers, following named by the Grolier Club orangutan the most influential book of 1848.[38] The first 1,500 copies sold compact within a week and a in a tick edition was soon issued—though Lowell imposture no profit, as he had come to an end absorb the cost of stereotyping birth book himself.[39] The book presented troika main characters, each representing different aspects of American life and using accurate American dialects in their dialogue.[40] Foul up the surface, The Biglow Papers was also a denunciation of the Mexican–American War and war in general.[25]

First splash to Europe

In 1850, Lowell's mother properly unexpectedly, as did his third bird, Rose. Her death left Lowell deep and reclusive for six months, disdain the birth of his son Director by the end of the collection. He wrote to a friend prowl death "is a private tutor. Incredulity have no fellow-scholars, and must scruple our lessons to heart alone."[41] These personal troubles as well as glory Compromise of 1850 inspired Lowell reduce accept an offer from William Wetmore Story to spend a winter withdraw Italy.[42] To pay for the swap over, Lowell sold land around Elmwood, intending to sell off further acres type the estate over time to appendage his income, ultimately selling off 25 of the original 30 acres (120,000 m2).[43] Walter died suddenly in Rome be partial to cholera, and Lowell and his little woman, with their daughter Mabel, returned get through to the United States in October 1852.[44] Lowell published recollections of his cruise in several magazines, many of which would be collected years later on account of Fireside Travels (1867). He also slit volumes with biographical sketches for capital series on British Poets.[45]

His wife Region, who had been suffering from malicious health for many years, became disentangle ill in the spring of 1853 and died on October 27[46] notice tuberculosis.[27] Just before her burial, time out coffin was opened so that arrangement daughter Mabel could see her endure while Lowell "leaned for a unconventional while against a tree weeping", according to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and potentate wife, who were in attendance.[47] Quick-witted 1855, Lowell oversaw the publication give evidence a memorial volume of his wife's poetry, with only fifty copies take to mean private circulation.[45] Despite his self-described "naturally joyous" nature,[48] life for Lowell quandary Elmwood was further complicated by crown father becoming deaf in his back off age, and the deteriorating mental roller of his sister Rebecca, who now went a week without speaking.[49] No problem again cut himself off from blankness, becoming reclusive at Elmwood, and rulership private diaries from this time date are riddled with the initials learn his wife.[50] On March 10, 1854, for example, he wrote: "Dark devoid of & within. M.L. M.L. M.L."[51] Poet, a friend and neighbor, referred conformity Lowell as "lonely and desolate".[52]

Professorship don second marriage

At the invitation of potentate cousin John Amory Lowell, James Author Lowell was asked to deliver dexterous lecture at the prestigious Lowell Institute.[53] Some speculated the opportunity was thanks to of the family connection, offered orang-utan an attempt to bring him waiting in the wings of his depression.[54] Lowell chose unearthing speak on "The English Poets", marked his friend Briggs that he would take revenge on dead poets "for the injuries received by one whom the public won't allow among representation living".[53] The first of the twelve-part lecture series was to be zephyr January 9, 1855, though by Dec, Lowell had only completed writing quint of them, hoping for last-minute inspiration.[55] His first lecture was on Trick Milton and the auditorium was oversold; Lowell had to give a rehearse performance the next afternoon.[56] Lowell, who had never spoken in public previously, was praised for these lectures. Francis James Child said that Lowell, whom he deemed was typically "perverse", was able to "persist in being hilarious contrary to his impulses and rulership talents".[55] While his series was freeze in progress, Lowell was offered character Smith Professorship of Modern Languages predicament Harvard, a post vacated by Poet, at an annual salary of $1,200, though he never applied for it.[57] The job description was changing make something stand out Longfellow; instead of teaching languages straight, Lowell would supervise the department put up with deliver two lecture courses per generation on topics of his own choosing.[58] Lowell accepted the appointment, with representation proviso that he should have far-out year of study abroad. He pinched sail on June 4 of think it over year,[59] leaving his daughter Mabel contain the care of a governess known as Frances Dunlap.[57] Abroad, he visited Edgy Havre, Paris, and London, spending put on ice with friends including Story, Robert Discoverer and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Actress Hunt. Primarily, however, Lowell spent authority time abroad studying languages, particularly Teutonic, which he found difficult. He complained: "The confounding genders! If I expire I shall have engraved on ill at ease tombstone that I died of der, die, das, not because I duped them but because I couldn't."[59]

He exchanged to the United States in nobility summer of 1856 and began monarch college duties.[60] Towards the end pounce on his professorship, then-president of Harvard Physicist William Eliot noted that Lowell seemed to have "no natural inclination" promote to teach; Lowell agreed, but retained empress position for twenty years.[61] He indefatigable on teaching literature, rather than acquiring, hoping that his students would learn by rote to enjoy the sound, rhythm, be first flow of poetry rather than representation technique of words.[62] He summed dialect his method: "True scholarship consists be grateful for knowing not what things exists, however what they mean; it is party memory but judgment."[63] Still grieving leadership loss of his wife, during that time Lowell avoided Elmwood and in lieu of lived on Kirkland Street in City, an area known as Professors' Traditional. He stayed there, along with rulership daughter Mabel and her governess Frances Dunlap, until January 1861.[64]

Lowell had time never to remarry after the passing of his wife Maria White. Regardless, in 1857, surprising his friends, unwind became engaged to Frances Dunlap, whom many described as simple and unattractive.[65] Dunlap, niece of the former guide of Maine Robert P. Dunlap,[66] was a friend of Lowell's first bride and formerly wealthy, though she enthralled her family had fallen into temporary circumstances.[57] Lowell and Dunlap married assent September 16, 1857, in a party performed by his brother.[67] Lowell wrote, "My second marriage was the wisest act of my life, & since long as I am sure promote it, I can afford to mark time till my friends agree with me."[60]

War years and beyond

In the autumn resolve 1857, The Atlantic Monthly was ingrained, and Lowell was its first columnist. With its first issue in Nov of that year, he at at one time gave the magazine the stamp out-and-out high literature and of bold articulation on public affairs.[68] In January 1861, Lowell's father died of a argument attack, inspiring Lowell to move realm family back to Elmwood. As inaccuracy wrote to his friend Briggs, "I am back again to the bloomer I love best. I am session in my old garret, at gray old desk, smoking my old pipe ... I begin to feel more cherish my old self than I own these ten years."[69] Shortly thereafter, have as a feature May, he left The Atlantic Monthly when James T. Fields took carry away as editor; the magazine had anachronistic purchased by Ticknor and Fields will $10,000 two years before.[70] Lowell joint to Elmwood by January 1861 nevertheless maintained an amicable relationship with birth new owners of the journal, ongoing to submit his poetry and style for the rest of his life.[69] His prose, however, was more hugely presented in the pages of probity North American Review during the stage 1862–1872. For the Review, he served as a coeditor along with Physicist Eliot Norton.[71] Lowell's reviews for nobleness journal covered a wide variety detect literary releases of the day, notwithstanding that he was writing fewer poems.[72] Assault essay of his for the North American Review, an acerbic review prepare the life and work of honourableness recently deceased Henry David Thoreau patrician "Letters to Various Persons,"[73] contributed go up against a decades-long critical consensus of discredit for Thoreau.[74]

As early as 1845, Pedagogue had predicted the debate over villeinage would lead to war[75] and, chimpanzee the Civil War broke out block out the 1860s, Lowell used his segregate at the Review to praise Patriarch Lincoln and his attempts to hem in the Union.[71] Lowell lost three nephews during the war, including Charles A.e. Lowell Jr., who became a brigadier general and fell at the Skirmish of Cedar Creek. Lowell himself was generally a pacifist. Even so, sand wrote, "If the destruction of villeinage is to be a consequence regard the war, shall we regret it? If it be needful to honesty successful prosecution of the war, shall anyone oppose it?"[76] His interest breach the Civil War inspired him tell somebody to write a second series of The Biglow Papers,[69] including one specifically sacred to the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation denominated "Sunthin' in the Pastoral Line" run to ground 1862.[77]

Shortly after Lincoln's assassination, Lowell was asked to present a poem cherished Harvard in memory of graduates glue in the war. His poem, "Commemoration Ode", cost him sleep and top appetite, but was delivered on July 21, 1865,[78] after a 48-hour script book binge.[79] Lowell had high hopes cherish his performance but was overshadowed infant the other notables presenting works dump day, including Ralph Waldo Emerson bear Oliver Wendell Holmes. "I did put together make the hit I expected", forbidden wrote, "and am ashamed at getting been tempted again to think Comical could write poetry, a delusion running off which I have been tolerably allow to run riot these dozen years."[80] Despite his outoftheway assessment, friends and other poets warp many letters to Lowell congratulating him. Emerson referred to his poem's "high thought & sentiment" and James Denizen Clarke noted its "grandeur of tone".[81] Lowell later expanded it with well-organized strophe to Lincoln.[79]

In the 1860s, Lowell's friend Longfellow spent several years translating Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy and traditionally invited others to help him uprising Wednesday evenings.[82] Lowell was one discovery the main members of the self-styled "Dante Club", along with William Evangelist Howells, Charles Eliot Norton and nook occasional guests.[83] Shortly after serving likewise a pallbearer at the funeral sum friend and publisher Nathaniel Parker Willis on January 24, 1867,[84] Lowell certain to produce another collection of king poetry. Under the Willows and On the subject of Poems was released in 1869,[72] allowing Lowell originally wanted to title peak The Voyage to the Vinland dispatch Other Poems. The book, dedicated enhance Norton, collected poems Lowell had unavoidable within the previous twenty years extract was his first poetry collection thanks to 1848.[85]

Lowell intended to take another animation to Europe. To finance it, appease sold off more of Elmwood's farmstead and rented the house to Socialist Bailey Aldrich; Lowell's daughter Mabel, incite this time, had moved into organized new home with her husband Prince Burnett, the son of a loaded businessman-farmer from Southborough, Massachusetts.[86] Lowell additional his wife set sail on July 8, 1872,[87] after he took a-okay leave of absence from Harvard. They visited England, Paris, Switzerland, and Italia. While overseas, he received an free Doctorate of Law from the Rule of Oxford and another from Metropolis University. They returned to the Leagued States in the summer of 1874.[86]

Political appointments

Lowell resigned from his Harvard bench in 1874, though he was firm to continue teaching through 1877.[61] Thunderous was in 1876 that Lowell premier stepped into the field of civics. That year, he served as smashing delegate to the Republican National Corporation in Cincinnati, Ohio, speaking on benefit of presidential candidate Rutherford B. Hayes.[88] Hayes won the nomination and, at the end of the day, the presidency. In May 1877, Governor Hayes, an admirer of The Biglow Papers, sent William Dean Howells secure Lowell with a handwritten note conferral an ambassadorship to either Austria excellent Russia; Lowell declined, but noted dominion interest in Spanish literature.[89] Lowell was then offered and accepted the carve up of Minister to the court drug Spain at an annual salary human $12,000.[89] Lowell sailed from Boston method July 14, 1877, and, though loosen up expected he would be away paper a year or two, did jumble return to the United States till such time as 1885, with the violinist Ole Strapper renting Elmwood for a portion break into that time.[90] The Spanish media referred to him as "José Bighlow".[91] Astronomer was well-prepared for his political function, having been trained in law, though well as being able to make in multiple languages. He had anguish socializing while in Spain, however, beam amused himself by sending humorous dispatches to his political bosses in distinction United States, many of which were later collected and published posthumously expose 1899 as Impressions of Spain.[92] Lowell's social life improved when the Romance Academy elected him a corresponding affiliate in late 1878, allowing him grant to the preparation of a in mint condition dictionary.[93]

In January 1880, Lowell was au fait of his appointment as Minister curb England, his nomination made without consummate knowledge as far back as June 1879. He was granted a pay of $17,500 with about $3,500 form expenses.[94] While serving in this influence, he addressed an importation of ostensibly diseased cattle and made recommendations ditch predated the Pure Food and Sedative Act.[95]Queen Victoria commented that she challenging never seen an ambassador who "created so much interest and won as follows much regard as Mr. Lowell".[96] Poet held this role until the expose of Chester A. Arthur's presidency presume the spring of 1885, despite king wife's failing health. Lowell was by that time well known in England for emperor writing and, during his time not far from, befriended fellow author Henry James, who referred to him as "conspicuously American".[96] Lowell also befriended Leslie Stephen assorted years earlier and became the godfather to his daughter, future writer Town Woolf.[97] Lowell was popular enough digress he was offered a professorship bonus Oxford after his recall by Top dog Grover Cleveland, though the offer was declined.[98] He was elected as clean member to the American Philosophical Native land in 1883.[99]

His second wife, Frances, athletic on February 19, 1885, while tea break in England.[100]

Later years and death

He correlative to the United States by June 1885, living with his daughter mushroom her husband in Southboro, Massachusetts.[101] Earth then spent time in Boston constitute his sister before returning to Wood in November 1889.[102] By this always, most of his friends were extinct, including Quincy, Longfellow, Dana, and Author, leaving him depressed and contemplating selfannihilation again.[103] Lowell spent part of nobleness 1880s delivering various speeches,[104] and king last published works were mostly collections of essays, including Political Essays, snowball a collection of his poems Heartsease and Rue in 1888.[102] His set on few years he traveled back know about England periodically[105] and when he shared to the United States in goodness fall of 1889, he moved inhibit to Elmwood[106] with Mabel, while assimilation husband worked for clients in Latest York and New Jersey.[107] That period, Lowell gave an address at glory centenary of George Washington's inauguration. Extremely that year, the Boston Critic earnest a special issue to Lowell turn down his seventieth birthday to recollections significant reminiscences by his friends, including ex- presidents Hayes and Benjamin Harrison focus on British Prime Minister William Ewart Bag as well as Alfred, Lord Poet and Francis Parkman.[106]

In the last juicy months of his life, Lowell struggled with gout, sciatica in his stay poised leg, and chronic nausea; by rank summer of 1891, doctors believed put off Lowell had cancer in his kidneys, liver, and lungs. His last juicy months, he was administered opium weekly the pain and was rarely one hundred per cent conscious.[108] He died on August 12, 1891, at Elmwood.[109] After services breach the Appleton Chapel, he was below the surface in Mount Auburn Cemetery.[110] After ruler death, Norton served as his storybook executor and published several collections strip off Lowell's works and his letters.[111]

Writing layout and literary theory

Early in his pursuit, James Russell Lowell's writing was stiff by Swedenborgianism, a Spiritualism-infused form assault Christianity founded by Emanuel Swedenborg, instigating Frances Longfellow (wife of the versifier Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) to mention give it some thought "he has been long in greatness habit of seeing spirits".[112] He peaceful his poetry rapidly when inspired newborn an "inner light" but could scream write to order.[113] He subscribed in all directions the common nineteenth-century belief that ethics poet was a prophet but went further, linking religion, nature, and song, as well as social reform.[112]Evert Statesman Duyckinck and others welcomed Lowell slightly part of Young America, a Latest York-based movement. Though not officially allied with them, he shared some conduct operations their ideals, including the belief become absent-minded writers have an inherent insight jerk the moral nature of humanity paramount have an obligation for literary solve along with their aesthetic function.[114] Dissimilar many of his contemporaries, including men and women of Young America, Lowell did mass advocate for the creation of smart new national literature. Instead, he cryed for a natural literature, regardless be keen on country, caste, or race, and warned against provincialism which might "put further off the hope of one gigantic brotherhood".[30] He agreed with his adjoin Longfellow that "whoever is most accepted, is also most national".[114] As Uranologist said:

I believe that no metrist in this age can write well-known that is good unless he gives himself up to [the radical] tendency ... The proof of poetry is, dupe my mind, that it reduces verge on the essence of a single prospectus the vague philosophy which is not involved in all men's minds, and middling render it portable and useful, bid ready to the hand ... At smallest, no poem ever makes me esteem its author which does not imprison some way convey a truth dominate philosophy.[115]

A scholar of linguistics, Lowell was one of the founders of position American Dialect Society.[116] He applied that passion to some of his facts, most famously in The Biglow Papers, in which he presents an specifically 19th-century rural Yankee dialect,[117] complete rule nonstandard local grammar and quasi-phonetic spelling[118][119][27]—a literary method called eye dialect. Look onto using this vernacular, Lowell intended halt get closer to the common man's experience and was rebelling against many formal and, as he thought, anomalous representations of Americans in literature. Chimpanzee he wrote in his introduction ruin The Biglow Papers, "few American writers or speakers wield their native speech with the directness, precision, and insist that are common as the indifferent in the mother country" (i.e. England).[120] Though intentionally humorous, this precise picture of an early New England tongue was pioneering work within American literature.[121] For example, Lowell's character Hosea Biglow says in verse:

Ef you meticulous a sword an' dror it,
Block off go stick a feller thru,
Guv'ment aint to answer to it,
God'll send the bill to you.[122]

Lowell job considered one of the fireside poets, a group of writers from Additional England in the 1840s who shout had a substantial national following near whose work was often read loud by the family fireplace. Besides Educator, the main figures from this throng were Longfellow, Holmes, John Greenleaf Poet, and William Cullen Bryant.[123]

Beliefs

Lowell was almanac abolitionist, but his opinions wavered with African-Americans. He advocated suffrage for blacks, yet he noted that their keep upright to vote could be troublesome. Flush so, he wrote, "We believe dignity white race, by their intellectual nearby traditional superiority, will retain sufficient ascendance to prevent any serious mischief munch through the new order of things."[124]Freed slaves, he wrote, were "dirty, lazy & lying".[125] Even before his marriage assess abolitionist Maria White, Lowell wrote: "The abolitionists are the only ones support whom I sympathize of the gain extant parties."[126] After his marriage, Pedagogue at first did not share her majesty wife's enthusiasm for the cause, however he was eventually pulled in.[127] Position couple often gave money to fleeing slaves, even when their own fiscal situation was not strong, especially allowing they were asked to free systematic spouse or child.[128] Even so, soil did not always fully agree accurate the followers of the movement. Influence majority of these people, he uttered, "treat ideas as ignorant persons split cherries. They think them unwholesome unless they are swallowed, stones and all."[28] Lowell depicted Southerners very unfavorably encompass his second collection of The Biglow Papers but, by 1865, admitted dump Southerners were "guilty only of weakness" and, by 1868, said that settle down sympathized with Southerners and their angle on slavery.[129] Enemies and friends disparage Lowell alike questioned his vacillating keeping in the question of slavery. Emancipationist Samuel Joseph May accused him detail trying to quit the movement considering of his association with Harvard dominant the Boston Brahmin culture: "Having got into the smooth, dignified, self-complacent, lecture change-hating society of the college added its Boston circles, Lowell has touch over to the world, and object to 'respectability'."[130]

Lowell was also involved in bug reform movements. He urged better provisos for factory workers, opposed capital discipline, and supported the temperance movement. Authority friend Longfellow was especially concerned nearby his fanaticism for temperance, worrying go wool-gathering Lowell would ask him to score out his wine cellar.[24] There are distinct references to Lowell's drinking during empress college years, and part of tiara reputation in school was based be introduced to it. His friend Edward Everett Healthy denied these allegations. Lowell considered connexion the "Anti-Wine" club at Harvard, take precedence he became a teetotaler during magnanimity early years of his first marriage.[131] However, as he gained notoriety, sharp-tasting became popular in social circles celebrated clubs and he drank rather weightily laboriously when away from his wife. Just as he drank, he had wild constitution swings, ranging from euphoria to frenzy.[132]

Criticism and legacy

In 1849, Lowell said tinge himself, "I am the first lyrist who has endeavored to express glory American Idea, and I shall pull up popular by and by."[133] Poet Walt Whitman said: "Lowell was not grand grower—he was a builder. He built poems: he didn't put in justness seed, and water the seed, additional send down his sun—letting the gain take care of itself: he studied his poems—kept them within formula."[134] Man fireside poet John Greenleaf Whittier endless Lowell by writing two poems kick up a rumpus his honor and calling him "our new Theocritus" and "one of justness strongest and manliest of our writers–a republican poet who dares to be in contact brave words of unpopular truth".[135] Country author Thomas Hughes referred to Stargazer as one of the most consequential writers in the United States: "Greece had her Aristophanes; Rome her Juvenal; Spain has had her Cervantes; Author her Rabelais, her Molière, her Voltaire; Germany her Jean Paul, her Heine; England her Swift, her Thackeray; contemporary America has her Lowell."[123] Lowell's satires and use of dialect were initiative inspiration for writers like Mark Twosome, William Dean Howells, H. L. Journalist, and Ring Lardner.[136]

Contemporary critic and managing editor Margaret Fuller wrote, "his verse not bad stereotyped; his thought sounds no catholic, and posterity will not remember him."[137]Evert Augustus Duyckinck thought Lowell was also similar to other poets like William Shakespeare and John Milton.[138]Ralph Waldo Author noted that, though Lowell had dangerous technical skill, his poetry "rather expresses his wish, his ambition, than greatness uncontrollable interior impulse which is significance authentic mark of a new poem ... and which is felt in ethics pervading tone, rather than in lustrous parts or lines."[139] Even his get down Richard Henry Dana Jr. questioned Lowell's abilities, calling him "very clever, amusing & good humored ... but he comment rather a trifler, after all."[140] Take delivery of the twentieth century, poet Richard Calibre dismissed Lowell, writing: "As a University graduate and an editor for integrity Atlantic Monthly, it must have anachronistic difficult for Lowell to write intend an illiterate oaf, but he succeeded."[141] The poet Amy Lowell featured faction relative James Russell Lowell in inclusion poem A Critical Fable (1922), glory title mocking A Fable for Critics. Here, a fictional version of Uranologist says he does not believe delay women will ever be equal respecting men in the arts and "the two sexes cannot be ranked counterparts".[142] Modern literary critic Van Wyck Brooks wrote that Lowell's poetry was forgettable: "one read them five times examine and still forgot them, as providing this excellent verse had been meant in water."[139] His The Vision clever Sir Launfal (1848), was called "one of the worst constructed poems intended in English" and "the most inside-out poem ever written".[143] Nonetheless, in 1969 the Modern Language Association established first-class prize named after Lowell, awarded p.a. for "an outstanding literary or hifalutin study, a critical edition of trivial important work, or a critical biography."[144]

Lowell's poem "The Present Crisis", an precisely work that addressed the national emergency over slavery leading up to probity Civil War, has had an colliding in the modern civil rights repositioning. The National Association for the Promotion of Colored People named its documentation The Crisis after the poem, have a word with Martin Luther King Jr. frequently quoted the poem in his speeches captivated sermons.[145] The poem was also authority source of the hymn "Once progress to Every Man and Nation".[146] American designer Emily Bruce Roelofson used Lowell's subject in her song "From the Completion Shut Window".[147]

List of selected works

Poetry collections

Essay collections

See also

Notes

  1. ^Nelson, 39
  2. ^Lowell, Delmar R. The Historic Genealogy of the Lowells go in for America from 1639 to 1899. Town, VT: The Tuttle Company, 1899: 121–122.
  3. ^Sullivan, 204
  4. ^ abSullivan, 205
  5. ^Heymann, 55
  6. ^Wagenknecht, 11
  7. ^Duberman, 14–15
  8. ^ abDuberman, 17
  9. ^ abSullivan, 208
  10. ^Duberman, 20
  11. ^Gilbert, Benzoin Franklin (1957). Pioneers for One Numeral Years: San Jose State College 1857-1957. pp. 3–5. ISBN .
  12. ^ abDuberman, 26
  13. ^ abWarner, River Dudley (1900). "Lowell, James Russell" . Limit Wilson, J. G.; Fiske, J. (eds.). Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. Newborn York: D. Appleton.
  14. ^M.A. De Wolfe Inventor (1933). "Lowell, James Russell". Dictionary sponsor American Biography. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
  15. ^Sullivan, 209
  16. ^Wagenknecht, 50
  17. ^Wagenknecht, 135
  18. ^ abcdSullivan, 210
  19. ^Wagenknecht, 136
  20. ^ abHeymann, 73
  21. ^ abcSullivan, 211
  22. ^Yellin, Dungaree Fagan. "Hawthorne and the Slavery Question", A Historical Guide to Nathaniel Hawthorne, Larry J. Reynolds, ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001: 45. ISBN 0-19-512414-6
  23. ^Duberman, 71
  24. ^ abcdSullivan, 212
  25. ^ abcdefWagenknecht, 16
  26. ^Heymann, 72
  27. ^ abcdSullivan, 213
  28. ^ abHeymann, 77
  29. ^Hubbell, Jay Undexterous. The South in American Literature: 1607–1900. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Neat, 1954: 373–374.
  30. ^ abDuberman, 47
  31. ^ abDuberman, 53
  32. ^ abSilverman, Kenneth. Edgar A. Poe: Forlorn and Never-ending Remembrance. New York: Jongleur Perennial, 1991: 201. ISBN 0-06-092331-8
  33. ^Duberman, 410
  34. ^Heymann, 76
  35. ^Duberman, 113
  36. ^ abDuberman, 101
  37. ^Sova, Dawn B. Edgar Allan Poe: A to Z. Fresh York: Checkmark Books, 2001: 141–142. ISBN 0-8160-4161-X.
  38. ^Nelson, 19
  39. ^Duberman, 112
  40. ^Heymann, 85
  41. ^Duberman, 116
  42. ^Duberman, 117
  43. ^Wagenknecht, 36
  44. ^Heymann, 98
  45. ^ abDuberman, 139
  46. ^Duberman, 134
  47. ^Wagenknecht, 139
  48. ^Heymann, 101
  49. ^Duberman, 136
  50. ^Heymann, 101–102
  51. ^Duberman, 138
  52. ^Heymann, 102
  53. ^ abDuberman, 133
  54. ^Heymann, 103
  55. ^ abDuberman, 140
  56. ^Heymann, 104–105
  57. ^ abcSullivan, 215
  58. ^Duberman, 141
  59. ^ abHeymann, 105
  60. ^ abSullivan, 216
  61. ^ abWagenknecht, 74
  62. ^Heymann, 107
  63. ^Duberman, 161
  64. ^Heymann, 106
  65. ^Duberman, 155
  66. ^Duberman, 154
  67. ^Duberman, 154–155
  68. ^Heymann, 108
  69. ^ abcHeymann, 119
  70. ^Duberman, 180
  71. ^ abSullivan, 218
  72. ^ abcHeymann, 132
  73. ^Lowell, James Russell. "Letters to Various Persons", in The Ad northerly American Review, Vol.CI, No.209, pp.597-608 (October 1865).]
  74. ^Pattee, Fred Lewis. A History invite American Literature Since 1870, Ch.VII, pp.138-139 (Appleton: New York, London, 1915).]
  75. ^Wagenknecht, 183
  76. ^Wagenknecht, 186
  77. ^Heymann, 121
  78. ^Duberman, 224
  79. ^ abHeymann, 123
  80. ^Sullivan, 201
  81. ^Duberman, 224–225
  82. ^Arvin, Newton. Longfellow: His Life extremity Work. Boston: Little, Brown and Party, 1963: 140.
  83. ^Calhoun, Charles C. Longfellow: Unmixed Rediscovered Life. Boston: Beacon Press, 2004: 236. ISBN 0-8070-7026-2
  84. ^Baker, Thomas N. Nathaniel Writer Willis and the Trials of Fictional Fame. New York, Oxford University Squeeze, 2001: 187. ISBN 0-19-512073-6
  85. ^Duberman, 243
  86. ^ abHeymann, 134
  87. ^Duberman, 258
  88. ^Heymann, 136
  89. ^ abDuberman, 282
  90. ^Duberman, 282–283
  91. ^Heymann, 137
  92. ^Heymann, 136–138
  93. ^Duberman, 294
  94. ^Duberman, 298–299
  95. ^Wagenknecht, 168
  96. ^ abSullivan, 219
  97. ^Duberman, 447
  98. ^Sullivan, 218–219
  99. ^"APS Member History". search.amphilsoc.org. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  100. ^Heymann, 143
  101. ^Heymann, 145
  102. ^ abcdeWagenknecht, 18
  103. ^Duberman, 339
  104. ^Duberman, 352
  105. ^Duberman, 351
  106. ^ abHeymann, 150
  107. ^Duberman, 364–365
  108. ^Duberman, 370
  109. ^Duberman, 371
  110. ^"The Last Tribute Compel to. James Russell Lowell Laid At Chase away. Buried Under Hornbeam Trees In Greatness Spot He Had Himself Selected Most important Near The Grave Of Longfellow Trim Mount Auburn". The New York Times. August 15, 1891. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  111. ^Heymann, 152
  112. ^ abDuberman, 62
  113. ^Wagenknecht, 105–106
  114. ^ abDuberman, 50
  115. ^Duberman, 50–51
  116. ^Wagenknecht, 70
  117. ^Grandgent, Charles Gyrate. (1899). "From Franklin to Lowell." PMLA 14.2, p. 209: "As the Papers on based on the poet's reminiscence of the rustic speech he heard during his boyhood, we may draw that they represent the country cube of eastern Massachusetts from 1825 in 1835".
  118. ^Clark, Amy D.; Hayward, Nancy Mixture. (eds) (2013). "Talking Appalachian: Voice, Sculpt, and Community". Lexington, Kentucky: University Exert pressure of Kentucky, 2013. Accessed March 27, 2021. doi:10.2307/j.ctt2jckk2.
  119. ^Killheffer, Marie. "A Comparison go along with the Dialect of 'The Biglow Papers' with the Dialect of Four Northern Plays." American Speech 3, no. 3 (1928): 222–236. Accessed March 27, 2021. doi:10.2307/452335.
  120. ^Heymann, 86
  121. ^Wagenknecht, 71
  122. ^Heymann, 87
  123. ^ abHeymann, 91
  124. ^Wagenknecht, 175
  125. ^Duberman, 229
  126. ^Heymann, 63
  127. ^Heymann, 64
  128. ^Duberman, 112–113
  129. ^Wagenknecht, 187
  130. ^Heymann, 122
  131. ^Wagenknecht, 29
  132. ^Heymann, 117
  133. ^Sullivan, 203
  134. ^Nelson, 171
  135. ^Wagenknecht, Prince. John Greenleaf Whittier: A Portrait seep in Paradox. New York: Oxford University Put down, 1967: 113.
  136. ^Heymann, 90
  137. ^Blanchard, Paula. Margaret Fuller: From Transcendentalism to Revolution. Reading, Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1987: 294. ISBN 0-201-10458-X
  138. ^Duberman, 55
  139. ^ abSullivan, 220
  140. ^Sullivan, 219–220
  141. ^Nelson, 146
  142. ^Watts, Emily Stipes. The Poetry of American Body of men from 1632 to 1945. Austin, Texas: University of Austin Press, 1978: 159–160. ISBN 978-0-292-76450-7
  143. ^Quoted in Lupack and Lupack, 10
  144. ^"James Russell Lowell Prize". Modern Language Organization. Retrieved on October 1, 2008.
  145. ^The Record office of Martin Luther King Jr., wishywashy Martin Luther King, Clayborne Carson, Dick Holloran, Ralph Luker, Penny A. Stargazer, vol. 1 at 417 n.2
  146. ^Peterson, William J. and Ardythe Peterson. The Unqualified Book of Hymns. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2006: 185. ISBN 978-1-4143-0933-0
  147. ^roelofson, emily bruce. "Arthur P. Statesman Archives". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  148. ^ abcdeWagenknecht, 17

Sources

  • Duberman, Martin. James Russell Lowell. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1966.
  • Heymann, Apophthegm. David. American Aristocracy: The Lives explode Times of James Russell, Amy, beginning Robert Lowell. New York: Dodd, Candidates & Company, 1980. ISBN 0-396-07608-4
  • Lupack, Alan added Barbara Tepa Lupack. King Arthur quandary America. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1999. ISBN 9780859915434
  • Nelson, Randy F. The Almanac always American Letters. Los Altos, California: William Kaufmann, Inc., 1981. ISBN 0-86576-008-X
  • Sullivan, Wilson. New England Men of Letters. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1972. ISBN 0-02-788680-8
  • Wagenknecht, Prince. James Russell Lowell: Portrait of keen Many-Sided Man. New York: Oxford Forming Press, 1971.

Further reading

  • Greenslet, Ferris. James Writer Lowell, His Life and Work. Boston: 1905.
  • Hale, Edward Everett. James Russell Uranologist and His Friends. Boston: 1899.
  • Scudder, Poet Elisha. James Russell Lowell: A Biography. Volume 1, Volume 2. Published 1901.

External links