Ionica

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21766

Title

Ionica

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A lyrical collection of eighty-five poems by William Johnson Cory, spanning his life from boyhood to old age. The volume features biographical notes, an introduction, and a wide range of subjects including love, separation, patriotism, and reflections on nature and history.

Summary up to 500 words

William Johnson Cory's *Ionica* stands as a substantial anthology of poetry that chronicles the life, mind, and evolving spirit of a distinguished scholar and teacher. The collection traverses a wide emotional and intellectual landscape, beginning with early pieces like *Desiderato* and *Mimnermus*, moving through youthful romances in *A Cruise* and *A Separation*, and culminating in mature reflections on history, liberty, and the passage of time. Cory, a devoted Whig and patriot, writes with intense emotion about English heroes such as Nelson and Wellington, alongside literary figures like Scott and Tennyson. The poems range from classical translations and Greek lyrics to original verses on school life, the sea, and the enduring nature of memory. The work is characterized by a unique blend of rigorous classical learning, deep personal feeling, and a fervent love for country and humanity. It serves as both a literary record and a testament to the author's vigorous intellect and generous heart. Cory's biography reveals a man of immense mental equipment and intellectual curiosity, yet one whose knowledge was never dry or cold but full of deep sentiment. His professional life was spent at Eton, where he aimed to inspire brave soldiers, wise historians, and generous legislators. His love for his country was passionate; he worshipped the heroes of his native land and felt a keen personal humiliation over national defeats. His feeling for authors was equally intense; he loved Virgil as a friend and spoke of Tennyson as the light and joy of his life. In literature, Cory valued writers who looked on life with a high-hearted gaze and cared intensely for humanity. He was not merely a technical critic but a man dominated by intense personal fervour. The collection captures his sensitivity to the charm of eager, high-spirited natures, his impatience with dullness, and his paternal interest in boys. Despite his sympathy for the weak and immature, he demanded high intellectual zeal. The poems reflect his journey from a quiet, bookish boy to a man who could forgive everything except meanness, cowardice, egotism, and conceit. Through verses on love, loss, aging, and the sea, *Ionica* offers a profound meditation on the human condition, celebrating the glory of England while acknowledging the inevitable decline of time and the enduring power of memory and virtue.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21766.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21766.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-04 02:19 UTC

Categories

• Poetry