The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

1365

Title

The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This collection gathers the complete poetic works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, spanning his early verses, famous ballads, and translations. Featuring timeless narratives like 'Evangeline' and 'The Song of Hiawatha,' the volume explores themes of nature, history, and human emotion with lyrical grace and enduring appeal.

Summary up to 500 words

The Complete Poetical Works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow stands as a definitive anthology of the American poet's life and artistry, capturing his reflective optimism and narrative mastery. The collection opens with early meditations on nature and mortality, such as "A Psalm of Life" and "The Reaper and the Flowers," establishing a tone that balances the passage of time with human resilience. The volume progresses through celebrated ballads like "The Wreck of the Hesperus" and "The Village Blacksmith," which blend dramatic storytelling with moral instruction. A significant portion is dedicated to "Poems on Slavery," where Longfellow addresses humanitarian concerns through works like "The Quadroon Girl" and "The Slave's Dream." His scholarly breadth is evident in his extensive translations from Spanish, Swedish, Danish, German, Anglo-Saxon, French, Italian, and Portuguese sources, including selections from Virgil and Ovid. His masterpiece, "The Song of Hiawatha," retells Ojibwe legends in a distinctive long-meter verse, while "Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie" recounts a tragic love story set against the backdrop of the Acadian expulsion. Other notable works include the historical romance "The Courtship of Miles Standish" and the dramatic poem "Christus: A Mystery." Longfellow's style is characterized by rhythmic clarity, vivid imagery, and accessible language, making his poetry widely popular during his lifetime. Themes of nature's sublime power, the endurance of the human spirit, and the interplay between history and legend recur throughout. The collection also features sonnets, elegiac verses, and occasional poems, offering a diverse range of forms and subjects. Ultimately, this edition serves as a comprehensive record of Longfellow's contribution to American literature, preserving his voice for future generations.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Classics
• Poetry