Q: Nicholas Basbanes – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – Intro

A:

• Wrote 9 books on cultural history

• Longfellow – 10th book, first biography

• Had fallen (undeservedly) out of fashion

• New Englander like Longfellow

• No one had written about influence of second wife

Q: What early influences shaped Longfellow?

A: 

• Raised in prominent New England / Maine family

• Father wanted him to be a lawyer

• Longfellow had a passion to write

• Graduated Bowdoin College at 18

• Offered full professorship in Modern European Languages

Q:    How did Longfellow spend three years in Europe?

A:

• Time in Europe was an awakening

• Soaked in literature of Europe

• Mastered 12-15 Languages

• Washington Irving in Spain became a mentor

• Later translated all of Dante into English

• Also wrote a book on Poetry of Europe

• Became familiar with Sephardic Jewish traditions

Q:  When did Longfellow start writing poetry?

A:

• Submitted first poem to Portland newspaper at age 13

• Published poetry while studying at Bowdoin College

• Seven years at Bowdoin & 18 at Harvard devoted to scholarship

• First writings were prose

• 1839 Published 1st collection Voices of the Night

• Psalm of Life was breakthrough poem

Q: What was Longfellow’s personality?

A:

• Decidedly decent person

• Honest, strong moral character

• Well-liked by all & accessible

• Impressive figure; excellent listener

• Discreet and extremely loyal friend

Q: What is your favorite Longfellow poem?

A:

• Approximately 440 published poems

• Cross of Snow

• Written on 18th anniversary of wife Fanny’s death

• Sonnet of 14 lines

• Deeply personal

Q: Who did Longfellow marry?

A:

• First wife Mary, families were friends

• Died tragically during miscarriage in Europe

• Poem, Footsteps of Angels, written in her memory

• Met wealthy Appleton family & daughter Fanny

• Courted Fanny for 7 years

• Found a brilliant, highly educated wife / partner

• Marriage was Longfellow’s most productive years

• Fanny tragically dies in home fire

Q: What were Longfellow’s views on slavery?

A:

•  Ardent abolitionist

• Close friend of leading abolitionist Charles Sumner

• 1842 Published 9 poems on slavery

• Slavery poems predated Uncle Tom’s Cabin by 10 years

• Gave money to underground railroad movement

• But did not take a “public” stand

Q: What is Longfellow’s, “The Jewish Cemetery at Newport”?

A:

• Summer 1852, Longfellows vacationing in Newport Rhode Island

• Comes across a cemetery with strange writing on tombstones

• Second oldest Jewish cemetery in America

• Sympathetic, well-meaning towards Jewish people

• “How strange it seems! These Hebrews in their graves”

• “And the dead nations never rise again”

Q: 2021: Why Longfellow?

A:

• Much too good a writer to forget & neglect

• Important poet of 18th century

• Iconic writing

• Speaks to people, resonates across all ages

• Deep values, melodious poetry