The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 122, December, 1867 / A Magazine of Literature, Science, Art, and Politics

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

28630

Title

The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 20, No. 122, December, 1867 / A Magazine of Literature, Science, Art, and Politics

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This 1867 issue of The Atlantic Monthly presents a diverse collection of literature, science, and politics. Highlights include George W. Cable's novel "The Guardian Angel," a critical essay on George Chapman's dramatic genius, and an article on the transcontinental railroad. The volume also features poetry, reviews, and sketches on the American Civil War, offering a rich snapshot of mid-19th-century intellectual and cultural life.

Summary up to 500 words

The December 1867 issue of *The Atlantic Monthly* presents a diverse collection of literature, criticism, and political commentary. The issue opens with George W. Cable's novel, "The Guardian Angel," a tale of ambition, class, and obsession. The story follows Murray Bradshaw, a lawyer and suitor to Myrtle Hazard, who faces a rival in Clement Lindsay. Consumed by jealousy and fearing the loss of Myrtle's affection, Bradshaw plots to sabotage Lindsay by planting forged documents in the family garret. His schemes unravel as Myrtle rejects his final confession of love, revealing her growing attachment to Lindsay. The narrative culminates in a dramatic confrontation involving hidden secrets and a tragic turn of events, exploring the destructive power of a man's pride and obsession. A substantial literary critique within the issue examines the Elizabethan dramatist George Chapman. The author praises Chapman's "irregular genius," highlighting his noble sentiments and powerful imagery in tragedies like *Bussy D'Ambois*. However, the essay criticizes the confusion and lack of coherence in his plots, noting that his intellect was often incomplete. The critique contrasts Chapman's tragic grandeur with his cynical, sharp-witted comedies, which display a philosophical contempt for women and a tendency toward extravagance. Excerpts from Chapman's verse illustrate his unique style, ranging from the sublime to the satirical. Another major piece, "Our Pacific Railroads," discusses the political and economic drive to build a transcontinental railway. The article details the history of the proposal from the 1830s through the Civil War, emphasizing the role of steam power in connecting the East and West. It notes that the debate over slavery in the Western Territories was a precursor to the Civil War, with the West's free soil nature ultimately dooming slavery in the nation. The text argues that the employment of steam and electricity was a sublime recognition of human progress that allowed the West to rapidly develop. The volume concludes with a review of J.G. Holland's poem "Kathrina." The review summarizes the poem's plot: a poet rejects God and religion to seek fame and love, only to find happiness through a return to faith prompted by a lamb and a dying woman's message. While the reviewer acknowledges the poem's highly embellished style and noble intent, they find its conception puerile and its treatment crude, suggesting that the work demands superhuman patience from the reader.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/28630.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg28630.epub

Download EPUB

Downloaded at

2026-07-04 04:08 UTC

Categories

• American periodicals