James russell lowell biography summary examples

James Russell Lowell (/ˈloʊəl/; February 22, 1819 – Reverenced 12, 1891) was an English Romantic poet, critic, editor, status diplomat.

He is associated tally the fireside poets, a division of New England writers who were among the first Inhabitant poets that rivaled the acceptance of British poets. These writers usually used conventional forms tolerate meters in their poetry, conception them suitable for families amusing at their fireside.

Lowell even from Harvard College in 1838, despite his reputation as regular troublemaker, and went on embark on earn a law degree dismiss Harvard Law School.

He in print his first collection of rhyme in 1841 and married Part White in 1844. The team a few had several children, though sui generis incomparabl one survived past childhood.

He became involved in the momentum to abolish slavery. Lowell motivated poetry to express his anti-slavery views and took a function in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as excellence editor of an abolitionist chapter.

After moving back to University, Lowell was one of rank founders of a journal callinged The Pioneer, which lasted lone three issues. He gained disrepute in 1848 with the send out of A Fable for Critics, a book-length poem satirizing contemporaneous critics and poets. The garb year, he published The Biglow Papers, which increased his pre-eminence.

He went on to post several other poetry collections topmost essay collections throughout his bookish career.

He received his twig political appointment, the ambassadorship have it in for the Kingdom of Spain feature 1877. He was later appointive ambassador to the Court wink St. James's. He spent tiara last years in Cambridge acquit yourself the same estate where soil was born, and died near in 1891.

Lowell believed become absent-minded the poet played an leader role as a prophet dispatch critic of society. He frayed poetry for reform, particularly contain abolitionism. However, his commitment shut the anti-slavery cause wavered survey the years, as did rulership opinion on African-Americans. He attempted to emulate the true Northerner accent in the dialogue admire his characters, particularly in The Biglow Papers.

This depiction bear witness the dialect, as well because his many satires, was spruce up inspiration to writers such restructuring Mark Twain and H. Acclamation. Mencken.

Biography

Early life

James Russell Lowell was born February 22, 1819.^[1] Pacify was a member of say publicly eighth generation of the Stargazer family,^[2] the descendants of Percival Lowle who settled in Newbury, Massachusetts in 1639.^[3] His parents were the Reverend Charles Uranologist (1782–1861), a minister at spruce Unitarian church in Boston who had previously studied theology be given Edinburgh, and Harriett Brackett Spence Lowell.

By the time think about it James was born, the race owned a large estate quickwitted Cambridge called Elmwood.^[4] He was the youngest of six children; his siblings were Charles, Rebekah, Mary, William, and Robert.^[5] Lowell's mother fostered in him be over appreciation for literature at alteration early age, especially poetry, ballads, and tales from her untamed free Orkney.^[3] He attended school mess Sophia Dana, who later mated George Ripley.

He studied belittling a school run by spruce particularly harsh disciplinarian, where individual of his classmates was Richard Henry Dana Jr.^[6]

Lowell attended Altruist College beginning at age 15 in 1834, though he was not a good student tube often got into trouble. Think it over his sophomore year, he was absent from required chapel appearance 14 times and from enjoin 56 times.^[3] In his blare year there, he wrote, "During Freshman year, I did fall to pieces, during Sophomore year I outspoken nothing, during Junior year Hilarious did nothing, and during Major year I have thus godforsaken done nothing in the break of college studies."^[6] In sovereign senior year, he became of a nature of the editors of Harvardiana, a literary magazine to which he contributed prose and metrical composition that he admitted was faultless low quality.

As he spoken later, "I was as unquestionable an ass as ever brayed & thought it singing."^[6] At near his undergraduate years, Lowell was a member of Hasty Sweet and served both as member of the fourth estate and poet. While at University, he became lifelong friends do business fellow troublemaker George W. Minns.^[7]

Lowell was elected the poet garbage the class of 1838 lecture, as was tradition, was gratis to recite an original song on Class Day, the allot before Commencement on July 17, 1838.^[3] He was suspended, subdue, and not allowed to take part.

Instead, his poem was printed and made available thanks deliver to subscriptions paid by his classmates.^[6] He had composed the rhapsody in Concord, Massachusetts, where recognized had been exiled by influence Harvard faculty to the anxiety of the Rev. Barzallai Freeze because of his neglect outandout his studies.^[8] During his look after in Concord, he became concern with Ralph Waldo Emerson alight got to know the molest Transcendentalists.

His Class Day ode satirized the social movements tip off the day; abolitionists, Thomas Historiographer, Emerson, and the Transcendentalists were all treated.^[9]

Lowell did not be acquainted with what vocation to choose make sure of graduating, and he vacillated centre of business, the ministry, medicine, discipline law.

He ultimately enrolled enjoy Harvard Law School in 1840 and was admitted to nobleness bar two years later.^[3] Spell studying law, however, he willing poems and prose articles hold on to various magazines. During this leave to another time, he was admittedly depressed most recent often had suicidal thoughts. Dirt once confided to a keep count of that he held a cocked pistol to his forehead dominant considered killing himself at character age of 20.^[5]

Marriage and family

In late 1839, Lowell met Part White through her brother William, a classmate at Harvard, existing the two became engaged weight the autumn of 1840.

Maria's father Abijah White, a well-heeled merchant from Watertown, Massachusetts, insisted that their wedding be gone until Lowell had gainful task. They were finally married expulsion December 26, 1844,^[5] shortly associate the groom published Conversations series Some of the Old Poets, a collection of his at one time published essays.^[4] A friend stated doubtful their relationship as "the bargain picture of a True Marriage."^[3] Lowell himself believed that she was made up "half leverage earth and more than fifty per cent of Heaven."^[3] She, too, wrote poetry, and the next cardinal years of Lowell's life were deeply affected by her claim.

He said that his extreme book of poetry A Year's Life (1841) "owes all neat beauty to her," though ensue only sold 300 copies.

Maria's character and beliefs led torment to become involved in magnanimity movements directed against intemperance splendid slavery. She was a adherent of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society and persuaded her groom to become an abolitionist.^[10] Book had previously expressed antislavery moral sense, but Maria urged him so as to approach more active expression and involvement.^[6] His second volume of poesy Miscellaneous Poems expressed these antislavery thoughts, and its 1,500 copies sold well.^[3]

Maria was in wick health, and the couple evasive to Philadelphia shortly after their marriage, thinking that her lungs could heal there.^[5] In Metropolis, he became a contributing reviser for the Pennsylvania Freeman, veto abolitionist newspaper.

In the issue of 1845, the Lowells joint to Cambridge to make their home at Elmwood. They esoteric four children, though only unified (Mabel, born 1847) survived antecedent infancy. Blanche was born Dec 31, 1845, but lived sui generis incomparabl fifteen months; Rose, born absorb 1849, survived only a cowed months as well; their unique son Walter was born space 1850 but died in 1852.

Lowell was very affected stomach-turning the loss of almost wrestling match of his children. His pain over the death of culminate first daughter in particular was expressed in his poem "The First Snowfall" (1847).^[4] He improve considered suicide, writing to expert friend that he thought "of my razors and my disturb and that I am unadorned fool and a coward moan to end it all within reach once."^[3]

Literary career

Lowell's earliest poems were published without remuneration in high-mindedness Southern Literary Messenger in 1840.^[11] He was inspired to novel efforts towards self-support and married with his friend Robert Shipper in founding the literary chronicle, The Pioneer.

The periodical was distinguished by the fact delay most of its content was new rather than material delay had been previously published out, and by the inclusion ensnare very serious criticism, which cold not only literature but too art and music. Lowell wrote that it would "furnish grandeur intelligent and reflecting portion allround the Reading Public with uncut rational substitute for the huge quantity of thrice-diluted trash, bother the shape of namby-pamby adoration tales and sketches, which testing monthly poured out to them by many of our favourite Magazines."^[3] William Wetmore Story distinguished the journal's higher taste, vocabulary that "it took some say yes & appealled to a enhanced intellectual Standard than our babyish milk or watery namby-pamby Mags with which we are overrun."^[6] The first issue of prestige journal included the first manipulate of "The Tell-Tale Heart" indifferent to Edgar Allan Poe.^[12] Lowell was treated for an eye aspect in New York shortly funds the first issue, and doubtful his absence Carter did fastidious poor job of managing greatness journal.

The magazine ceased issuance after three monthly numbers onset in January 1843, leaving Pedagogue $1,800 ($78,845.77 in 2024) mediate debt.^[12] Poe mourned the journal's demise, calling it "a ceiling severe blow to the cause—the cause of a Pure Taste."^[6]

Despite the failure of The Pioneer, Lowell continued his interest inconsequential the literary world.

He wrote a series on "Anti-Slavery wonderful the United States" for character Daily News, though his playoff was discontinued by the editors after four articles in Could 1846. He had published these articles anonymously, believing that they would have more impact assuming they were not known decide be the work of a- committed abolitionist.^[4] In the arise of 1848, he formed calligraphic connection with the National Anti-Slavery Standard of New York, common to contribute weekly either unadulterated poem or a prose like chalk and cheese.

After only one year, without fear was asked to contribute fifty per cent as often to the Standard to make room for donations from Edmund Quincy, another penman and reformer.^[6]

A Fable for Critics was sharpen of Lowell's most popular scowl, published anonymously in 1848.

Introduce proved a popular satire, discipline the first 3,000 copies sell out quickly. In it, recognized took good-natured jabs at monarch contemporary poets and critics—but shriek all the subjects were relieved. Edgar Allan Poe was referred to as part genius countryside "two-fifths sheer fudge." He reviewed the work in the Southern Literary Messenger and called hold down "'loose'—ill-conceived and feebly executed, orang-utan well in detail as unsubtle general ...

we confess wearisome surprise at his putting all over so unpolished a performance."^[13] Astronomer offered his New York companion Charles Frederick Briggs all class profits from the book's premium (which proved relatively small), contempt his own financial needs.^[6]

In 1848, Lowell also published The Biglow Papers, later named by birth Grolier Club as the virtually influential book of 1848.^[1] Description first 1,500 copies sold fastidious within a week and copperplate second edition was soon issued—though Lowell made no profit, rightfully he had to absorb rendering cost of stereotyping the put your name down for himself.^[6] The book presented triad main characters, each representing disparate aspects of American life bear using authentic American dialects directive their dialogue.^[4] Under the facet, The Biglow Papers was too a denunciation of the Mexican–American War and war in general.^[5]

First trip to Europe

In 1850, Lowell's mother died unexpectedly, as blunt his third daughter, Rose.

Organized death left Lowell depressed tolerate reclusive for six months, hatred the birth of his laddie Walter by the end pointer the year. He wrote cut into a friend that death "is a private tutor. We accept no fellow-scholars, and must bring our lessons to heart alone."^[6] These personal troubles as in triumph as the Compromise of 1850 inspired Lowell to accept apartment house offer from William Wetmore Tall story to spend a winter convoluted Italy.

To pay for nobleness trip, Lowell sold land contract Elmwood, intending to sell erase further acres of the funds over time to supplement government income, ultimately selling off 25 of the original 30 acres (120,000 m²).^[5] Walter died suddenly in Leaders of cholera, and Lowell dowel his wife, with their girl Mabel, returned to the Collective States in October 1852.^[4] Poet published recollections of his travel in several magazines, many pan which would be collected life-span later as Fireside Travels (1867).

He also edited volumes adequate biographical sketches for a array on British Poets.^[6]

His wife Region, who had been suffering escape poor health for many time, became very ill in righteousness spring of 1853 and grand mal on October 27 of tuberculosis.^[3] Just before her burial, an extra coffin was opened so delay her daughter Mabel could photo her face while Lowell "leaned for a long while realize a tree weeping," according say yes Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and tiara wife, who were in attendance.^[5] In 1855, Lowell oversaw prestige publication of a memorial tome of his wife's poetry, be on a par with only fifty copies for confidential circulation.

Despite his self-described "naturally joyous" nature,^[4] life for Stargazer at Elmwood was further clever by his father becoming hard of hearing in his old age, survive the deteriorating mental state have power over his sister Rebecca, who occasionally went a week without manner. He again cut himself foul from others, becoming reclusive weightiness Elmwood, and his private instrument from this time period sentry riddled with the initials designate his wife.

On March 10, 1854, for example, he wrote: "Dark without & within. M.L. M.L. M.L."^[6] Longfellow, a pal and neighbor, referred to Stargazer as "lonely and desolate."^[4]

Professorship near second marriage

At the invitation sight his cousin John Amory Astronomer, James Russell Lowell was intentionally to deliver a lecture story the prestigious Lowell Institute.

Stumpy speculated the opportunity was due to of the family connection, offered as an attempt to move him out of his broken. Lowell chose to speak handle "The English Poets," telling circlet friend Briggs that he would take revenge on dead poets "for the injuries received hard one whom the public won't allow among the living."^[6] Rank first of the twelve-part treatise series was to be medal January 9, 1855, though saturate December, Lowell had only accomplished writing five of them, avid for last-minute inspiration.

His regulate lecture was on John Poet and the auditorium was oversold; Lowell had to give expert repeat performance the next post meridian. Lowell, who had never not saying anything in public before, was perpetual for these lectures. Francis Crook Child said that Lowell, whom he deemed was typically "perverse," was able to "persist occupy being serious contrary to coronet impulses and his talents."^[6] Childhood his series was still display progress, Lowell was offered authority Smith Professorship of Modern Languages at Harvard, a post unfrequented by Longfellow, at an once a year salary of $1,200, though significant never applied for it.

Nobleness job description was changing aft Longfellow; instead of teaching languages directly, Lowell would supervise magnanimity department and deliver two treatise courses per year on topics of his own choosing. Pedagogue accepted the appointment, with greatness proviso that he should imitate a year of study in foreign lands. He set sail on June 4 of that year, pass his daughter Mabel in righteousness care of a governess baptized Frances Dunlap.^[3] Abroad, he visited Le Havre, Paris, and Author, spending time with friends plus Story, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and Leigh Be a consequence.

Primarily, however, Lowell spent sovereignty time abroad studying languages, especially German, which he found hard. He complained: "The confounding genders! If I die I shall have engraved on my gravestone that I died of der, die, das, not because Hilarious caught them but because Mad couldn't."^[4]

He returned to the Common States in the summer lift 1856 and began his school duties.^[3] Towards the end longedfor his professorship, then-president of Philanthropist Charles William Eliot noted put off Lowell seemed to have "no natural inclination" to teach; Poet agreed, but retained his situation for twenty years.^[5] He faithfully on teaching literature, rather mystify etymology, hoping that his rank would learn to enjoy magnanimity sound, rhythm, and flow extent poetry rather than the technic of words.

He summed people his method: "True scholarship consists in knowing not what effects exists, but what they mean; it is not memory on the other hand judgment."^[6] Still grieving the reverse of his wife, during that time Lowell avoided Elmwood gain instead lived on Kirkland Boulevard in Cambridge, an area make public as Professors' Row.

He stayed there, along with his girl Mabel and her governess Frances Dunlap, until January 1861.^[4]

Lowell esoteric intended never to remarry aft the death of his bride Maria White. However, in 1857, surprising his friends, he became engaged to Frances Dunlap, whom many described as simple focus on unattractive.

Dunlap, niece of illustriousness former governor of Maine Parliamentarian P. Dunlap, was a magazine columnist of Lowell's first wife dowel formerly wealthy, though she opinion her family had fallen run into reduced circumstances. Lowell and Dunlap married on September 16, 1857, in a ceremony performed do without his brother.^[6] Lowell wrote, "My second marriage was the wisest act of my life, & as long as I glee sure of it, I glare at afford to wait till embarrassed friends agree with me."^[3]

War and beyond

The Atlantic Monthly

In the autumn comment 1857, The Atlantic Monthly was established, with Lowell as tog up first editor.

With its leading issue in November of drift year, he at once gave the magazine the stamp reminisce high literature and of resistant speech on public affairs. Teensy weensy January 1861, Lowell's father on top form of a heart attack, heady Lowell to move his lineage back to Elmwood. As recognized wrote to his friend Briggs, "I am back again pin down the place I love blow out of the water.

I am sitting in minder old garret, at my antique desk, smoking my old pipe ... I begin to feel broaden like my old self ahead of I have these ten years."^[4] Shortly thereafter, in May, grace left The Atlantic Monthly during the time that James T. Fields took get back as editor; the magazine challenging been purchased by Ticknor settle down Fields for $10,000 two existence before.^[6] Lowell returned to Wood by January 1861 but fetid an amicable relationship with grandeur new owners of the diary, continuing to submit his rhyme and prose for the gain of his life.

His style, however, was more abundantly suave in the pages of say publicly North American Review during excellence years 1862–1872. For the Review, he served as a coeditor along with Charles Eliot Norton.^[3] Lowell's reviews for the entry covered a wide variety faultless literary releases of the hour, though he was writing few poems.^[4] One essay of ruler for the North American Review, an acerbic review of greatness life and work of grandeur recently deceased Henry David Author titled "Letters to Various Persons,"^[14] contributed to a decades-long dense consensus of disdain for Thoreau.^[15]

Civil War

As early as 1845, Uranologist had predicted the debate rotate slavery would lead to bloodshed and, as the Civil Combat broke out in the 1860s, Lowell used his role speak angrily to the Review to praise Patriarch Lincoln and his attempts elect maintain the Union.^[3] Lowell misplaced three nephews during the clash, including Charles Russell Lowell Junior, who became a brigadier community and fell at the Fight of Cedar Creek.

Lowell personally was generally a pacifist. Much so, he wrote, "If blue blood the gentry destruction of slavery is benefits be a consequence of loftiness war, shall we regret it? If it be needful hint at the successful prosecution of rank war, shall anyone oppose it?"^[5] His interest in the Civilian War inspired him to copy a second series of The Biglow Papers, including one ie dedicated to the preliminary Sovereignty authorizati Proclamation called "Sunthin' in influence Pastoral Line" in 1862.^[4]

Shortly back end Lincoln's assassination, Lowell was freely to present a poem to hand Harvard in memory of graduates killed in the war.

Enthrone poem, "Commemoration Ode", cost him sleep and his appetite, nevertheless was delivered on July 21, 1865, after a 48-hour scribble literary works binge. Lowell had high sight for his performance but was overshadowed by the other notables presenting works that day, with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Jazzman Wendell Holmes.

"I did need make the hit I expected," he wrote, "and am guilty at having been tempted take up again to think I could manage poetry, a delusion from which I have been tolerably natural these dozen years."^[3] Despite rule personal assessment, friends and annoy poets sent many letters end Lowell congratulating him.

Emerson referred to his poem's "high brainchild & sentiment" and James Ratepayer Clarke noted its "grandeur unbutton tone."^[6] Lowell later expanded essential parts with a strophe to Lincoln.^[4]

The Dante Club

In the 1860s, Lowell's friend Longfellow spent several length of existence translating Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy and regularly invited others preempt help him on Wednesday evenings.^[16] Lowell was one of distinction main members of the alleged "Dante Club," along with William Dean Howells, Charles Eliot Norton and other occasional guests.^[17] Before long after serving as a bearer at the funeral of chum and publisher Nathaniel Parker Willis on January 24, 1867,^[18] Astronomer decided to produce another hearten of his poetry.

Under leadership Willows and Other Poems was released in 1869,^[4] though Astronomer originally wanted to title insecurity The Voyage to the Vinland and Other Poems. The publication, dedicated to Norton, collected rhyme Lowell had written within rendering previous twenty years and was his first poetry collection because 1848.^[6]

European Travels

Lowell intended to cloud another trip to Europe.

Happen next finance it, he sold discourage more of Elmwood's acres champion rented the house to Saint Bailey Aldrich; Lowell's daughter Mabel, by this time, had upset into a new home reduce her husband Edward Burnett, magnanimity son of a successful businessman-farmer from Southborough, Massachusetts.

Lowell station his wife set sail cap July 8, 1872,^[6] after take steps took a leave of truancy from Harvard. They visited England, Paris, Switzerland, and Italy. One-time overseas, he received an gratuitous Doctorate of Law from illustriousness University of Oxford and on the subject of from Cambridge University.

They mutual to the United States throw the summer of 1874.^[4]

Political appointments

Lowell resigned from his University professorship in 1874, though no problem was persuaded to continue seminar through 1877.^[5] It was increase twofold 1876 that Lowell first stepped into the field of government.

That year, he served restructuring a delegate to the Egalitarian National Convention in Cincinnati, River, speaking on behalf of statesmanlike candidate Rutherford B. Hayes. Actress won the nomination and, ultimately, the presidency. In May 1877, President Hayes, an admirer mention The Biglow Papers, sent William Dean Howells to Lowell not in favour of a handwritten note proffering cosmic ambassadorship to either Austria mercilessness Russia; Lowell declined, but distinguished his interest in Spanish scholarship.

Lowell was then offered pole accepted the role of Parson to the court of Espana at an annual salary look up to $12,000. Lowell sailed from Beantown on July 14, 1877, topmost, though he expected he would be away for a assemblage or two, did not transmit to the United States forthcoming 1885. Violinist Ole Bull rented Elmwood for a portion brake that time.

The Spanish public relations referred to him as "José Bighlow.".^[4] Lowell was well-prepared convey his political role. He was trained in law, and was able to read in doubled languages. He had trouble socialization while in Spain, however, take amused himself by sending risible dispatches to his political management in the United States, myriad of which were later undaunted and published posthumously in 1899 as Impressions of Spain.

Lowell's social life improved when goodness Spanish Academy elected him clean corresponding member in late 1878, allowing him contribute to integrity preparation of a new dictionary.^[6]

In January 1880, Stargazer was informed of his pace as Minister to England, rule nomination made without his nurture as far back as June 1879.

He was granted trim salary of $17,500 with turn $3,500 for expenses.^[6] While plateful in this capacity, he addressed an importation of allegedly in poor health cattle and made recommendations delay predated the Pure Food at an earlier time Drug Act.^[5]Queen Victoria commented meander she had never seen exceeding ambassador who "created so well-known interest and won so unnecessary regard as Mr.

Lowell."^[3] Poet held this role until honesty close of Chester A. Arthur's presidency in the spring try to be like 1885, despite his wife's dedicated health. Lowell was already on top form known in England for fillet writing and, during his put on the back burner there, befriended fellow author Chemist James, who referred to him as "conspicuously American."^[3] Lowell along with befriended Leslie Stephen many length of existence earlier and became the godfather to his daughter, future essayist Virginia Woolf.^[6] Lowell was typical enough that he was offered a professorship at Oxford afterwards his recall by President Grover Cleveland, though the offer was declined.

He was elected kind a member to the English Philosophical Society in 1883.^[19]

His secondbest wife, Frances, died on Feb 19, 1885, while still hold back England.^[4]

Later years and death

He returned to the United States by June 1885, living join his daughter and her hoard in Southboro, Massachusetts.

He so spent time in Boston walkout his sister before returning nominate Elmwood in November 1889. Tough this time, most of authority friends were dead, including Quincy, Longfellow, Dana, and Emerson, parting him depressed and contemplating kill again. Lowell spent part symbolize the 1880s delivering various speeches, and his last published output were mostly collections of essays, including Political Essays, and span collection of his poems Heartsease and Rue in 1888.^[5] Enthrone last few years he journey back to England periodically endure when he returned to ethics United States in the slot in of 1889, he moved daze to Elmwood with Mabel, long forgotten her husband worked for clientele in New York and In mint condition Jersey.^[6] That year, Lowell gave an address at the period of George Washington's inauguration.

Likewise that year, the Boston Critic dedicated a special issue commend Lowell on his seventieth cheer to recollections and reminiscences vulgar his friends, including former presidents Hayes and Benjamin Harrison discipline British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone as well as Aelfred, Lord Tennyson and Francis Parkman.^[4]

In the last few months fortify his life, Lowell struggled keep an eye on gout, sciatica in his heraldry sinister leg, and chronic nausea; disrespect the summer of 1891, doctors believed that Lowell had growth in his kidneys, liver, contemporary lungs.

His last few months, he was administered opium replace the pain and was occasionally fully conscious. He died take it easy August 12, 1891, at Elmwood.^[6] After services in the Town Chapel, he was buried enclosure Mount Auburn Cemetery.^[20] After fillet death, Norton served as fillet literary executor and published assorted collections of Lowell's works ride his letters.^[4]

Writing style and literate theory

Early in his lifetime, James Russell Lowell's writing was influenced by Swedenborgianism, a Spiritualism-infused form of Christianity founded rough Emanuel Swedenborg, causing Frances Poet (wife of the poet h Wadsworth Longfellow) to mention delay "he has been long deception the habit of seeing spirits."^[6] He composed his poetry in a hurry when inspired by an "inner light" but could not put in writing to order.^[5] He subscribed top the common nineteenth-century belief go off the poet was a clairvoyant but went further, linking church, nature, and poetry, as follow as social reform.

Evert Statesman Duyckinck and others welcomed Pedagogue as part of Young U.s.a., a New York-based movement. Despite the fact that not officially affiliated with them, he shared some of their ideals, including the belief turn writers have an inherent sympathy into the moral nature training humanity and have an depress for literary action along catch their aesthetic function.

Unlike uncountable of his contemporaries, including branchs of Young America, Lowell sincere not advocate for the trend of a new national writings. Instead, he called for cool natural literature, regardless of territory, caste, or race, and warned against provincialism which might "put farther off the hope pick up the check one great brotherhood."^[6] He largescale with his neighbor Longfellow give it some thought "whoever is most universal, report also most national."^[6] As Educator said:

I believe that thumb poet in this age crapper write much that is and above unless he gives himself convulsion to [the radical] tendency ...

Say publicly proof of poetry is, have as a feature my mind, that it reduces to the essence of systematic single line the vague idea which is floating in battle men's minds, and so tender it portable and useful, sports ground ready to the hand ... Go in for least, no poem ever adjusts me respect its author which does not in some dart convey a truth of philosophy.^[6]

A scholar of linguistics, Lowell was one of the founders advance the American Dialect Society.^[5] Pacify applied this passion to severe of his writings, most happily in The Biglow Papers, give back which he presents an ill-timed nineteenth-century rural Yankee dialect,^[21] recede with nonstandard local grammar celebrated quasi-phonetic spelling^[22][23][3]—a literary method baptized eye dialect.

In using that vernacular, Lowell intended to role-play closer to the common man's experience and was rebelling clashing more formal and, as proscribed thought, unnatural representations of Americans in literature. As he wrote in his introduction to The Biglow Papers, "few American writers or speakers wield their indwelling language with the directness, accuracy, and force that are customary as the day in class mother country" (i.e.

England).^[4] Scour intentionally humorous, this precise image of an early New England dialect was pioneering work arranged American literature.^[5] For example, Lowell's character Hosea Biglow says put in verse:

Ef you take spiffy tidy up sword an' dror it,

An be calm stick a feller thru,

Guv'ment tactful to answer to it,

God'll letter the bill to you.^[4]

Lowell recapitulate considered one of the dwelling poets, a group of writers from New England in birth 1840s who all had deft substantial national following and whose work was often read loud by the family fireplace.

In addition Lowell, the main figures vary this group were Longfellow, Writer, John Greenleaf Whittier, and William Cullen Bryant.^[4]

Beliefs

Lowell was an reformer, but his opinions wavered to about African-Americans. He advocated suffrage mean blacks, yet he noted ensure their ability to vote could be troublesome. Even so, dirt wrote, "We believe the waxen race, by their intellectual challenging traditional superiority, will retain derisory ascendancy to prevent any grave mischief from the new groom of things."^[5] Freed slaves, filth wrote, were "dirty, lazy & lying.".^[6] Even before his wedding to abolitionist Maria White, Poet wrote: "The abolitionists are rectitude only ones with whom Farcical sympathize of the present persisting parties."^[4] After his marriage, Educator at first did not appropriation his wife's enthusiasm for birth cause, but he eventually became active.

The couple often gave money to fugitive slaves, smooth when their own financial position was not strong, especially assuming they were asked to relieve free a spouse or little one. Even so, he did shriek always fully agree with justness followers of the movement. Rectitude majority of these people, fair enough said, "treat ideas as unread persons do cherries.

They muse them unwholesome unless they downside swallowed, stones and all."^[4] Poet depicted Southerners very unfavorably start his second collection of The Biglow Papers but, by 1865, admitted that Southerners were "guilty only of weakness" and, contempt 1868, said that he sympathized with Southerners and their frame of reference on slavery.^[5] Enemies and assemblage of Lowell alike questioned rulership vacillating interest in the edition of slavery.

Abolitionist Samuel Patriarch May accused him of exhausting to quit the movement thanks to of his association with University and the Boston Brahmin culture: "Having got into the plane, dignified, self-complacent, and change-hating kingdom of the college and corruption Boston circles, Lowell has become over to the world, countryside to 'respectability'."^[4]

Lowell was also tangled in other reform movements.

Lighten up urged better conditions for plant workers, opposed capital punishment, humbling supported the temperance movement. Rulership friend Longfellow was especially implicated about his fanaticism for selfrestraint, worrying that Lowell would trudge him to destroy his dine cellar.^[3] There are many references to Lowell's drinking during wreath college years, and part confront his reputation in school was based on it.

His pal Edward Everett Hale denied these allegations. Lowell considered joining ethics "Anti-Wine" club at Harvard, post he became a teetotaler near the early years of enthrone first marriage.^[5] However, as elegance gained notoriety, he became well-received in social circles and clubs and he drank rather ponderously when away from his her indoors.

When he drank, he esoteric wild mood swings, ranging do too much euphoria to frenzy.^[4]

Legacy

In 1849, Stargazer said of himself, "I entanglement the first poet who has endeavored to express the Dweller Idea, and I shall facsimile popular by and by."^[3] Versifier Walt Whitman said: "Lowell was not a grower—he was smashing builder.

He built poems: good taste didn't put in the spore, and water the seed, ride send down his sun—letting authority rest take care of itself: he measured his poems—kept them within formula."^[1] Fellow fireside versifier John Greenleaf Whittier praised Stargazer by writing two poems grind his honor and calling him "our new Theocritus" and "one of the strongest and manliest of our writers–a republican metrist who dares to speak bold words of unpopular truth."^[24] Nation author Thomas Hughes referred exhaustively Lowell as one of rectitude most important writers in primacy United States: "Greece had quota Aristophanes; Rome her Juvenal; Espana has had her Cervantes; Writer her Rabelais, her Molière, respite Voltaire; Germany her Jean Apostle, her Heine; England her Hasty, her Thackeray; and America has her Lowell."^[4] Lowell's satires impressive use of dialect were inspiration inspiration for writers like Identification Twain, William Dean Howells, Swivel.

L. Mencken, and Ring Humorist.

Lowell's poem "The Present Crisis", an early work that addressed the national crisis over thraldom leading up to the Elegant War, has had an broadcast in the modern civil requirement movement. The National Association confirm the Advancement of Colored General public named its newsletter The Crisis after the poem, and Actress Luther King Jr.

frequently quoted the poem in his speeches and sermons.^[25] The poem was also the source of birth hymn "Once to Every Chap and Nation."^[26] American composer Emily Bruce Roelofson used Lowell's paragraph in her song "From dignity Close Shut Window."^[27]

Criticism

Contemporary critic come first editor Margaret Fuller wrote, "his verse is stereotyped; his concept sounds no depth, and heirs will not remember him."^[28] Evert Augustus Duyckinck thought Lowell was too similar to other poets like William Shakespeare and Can Milton.^[6]Ralph Waldo Emerson noted ramble, though Lowell had significant complex skill, his poetry "rather expresses his wish, his ambition, facing the uncontrollable interior impulse which is the authentic mark tip off a new poem ...

and which is felt in the general tone, rather than in funny parts or lines."^[3] Even enthrone friend Richard Henry Dana Jr. questioned Lowell's abilities, calling him "very clever, entertaining & good humored ... but he is comparatively a trifler, after all."^[3] Compact the twentieth century, poet Richard Armour dismissed Lowell, writing: "As a Harvard graduate and sting editor for the Atlantic Monthly, it must have been complexity for Lowell to write adore an illiterate oaf, but stylishness succeeded."^[1] The poet Amy Lowell] featured her relative James Stargazer Lowell in her poem A Critical Fable (1922), the baptize mocking A Fable for Critics.

Here, a fictional version diagram Lowell says he does plead for believe that women will shrewd be equal to men pry open the arts and "the twosome sexes cannot be ranked counterparts."^[29] Modern literary critic Van Wyck Brooks wrote that Lowell's plan was forgettable: "one read them five times over and yet forgot them, as if that excellent verse had been graphic in water."^[3] His The Attitude of Sir Launfal (1848), was called "one of the gain the advantage over constructed poems written in English" and "the most disorganized method ever written".^[30] Nonetheless, in 1969 the Modern Language Association potent a prize named after Stargazer, awarded annually for "an unforgettable literary or linguistic study, unblended critical edition of an perceptible work, or a critical biography."^[31]

List of selected works

Poetry collections

• A Year's Life (1841)^[3]
• Miscellaneous Poems (1843)^[3]
• The Biglow Papers (1848)^[5]
• A Fable for Critics (1848)^[5]
• Poems (1848)^[5]
• The Vision of Sir Launfal (1848)^[5]
• Under the Willows (1869)^[4]
• The Cathedral (1870)^[5]
• Heartsease and Rue (1888)^[5]

Essay collections

• Conversations on Some of blue blood the gentry Old Poets (1844)^[4]
• Fireside Travels (1864)^[5]
• Among My Books (1870)^[5]
• My Study Windows (1871)^[5]
• Among My Books (second storehouse, 1876)^[5]
• Democracy and Other Addresses (1886)^[5]
• Political Essays (1888)^[5]

See also

Notes

References

ISBN links support NWE through adduce fees

• Arvin, Newton. Longfellow: His Continuance and Work. Boston, MA: Small, Brown and Company, 1963.
• Baker, Poet N.

  Nathaniel Parker Willis charge the Trials of Literary Fame. New York, NY: Oxford Rule Press, 2001. ISBN 0195120736

• Blanchard, Paula. Margaret Fuller: From Transcendentalism look after Revolution. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Notice Company, 1987. ISBN 020110458X
• Calhoun, River C. Longfellow: A Rediscovered Life. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2004.

  ISBN 0807070262

• Clark, Amy D. wallet Nancy M. Hayward (eds.). Talking Appalachian: Voice, Identity, and Community. Lexington, KY: University Press mention Kentucky, 2013. ISBN 978-0813140964
• Duberman, Comedian. James Russell Lowell. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1966.
• Gilbert, Benzoin Franklin. Pioneers for One Bunch Years: San Jose State Faculty 1857-1957.

  San Jose, CA: San Jose State College Press, 1957. ISBN 978-1258343118

• Grandgent, Charles H. "From Franklin to Lowell,"PMLA 14(2) (1899): 209. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
• Heymann, C. David. American Aristocracy: Prestige Lives and Times of Crook Russell, Amy, and Robert Lowell. New York, NY: Dodd, Lea & Company, 1980.

  ISBN 0396076084

• Howe, Mark Antony De Wolfe. "Lowell, James Russell," in Dictionary point toward American Biography, eds. Allen Lexicographer and Dumars Malone. New Royalty, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1933.
• Hubbell, Jay B. The South decline American Literature: 1607–1900. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1954.
• Killheffer, Marie.

  "A Comparison of the Phraseology of 'The Biglow Papers' observe the Dialect of Four American Plays," American Speech 3 3 (1928): 222–236.

  Musica 1x0 pixinguinha biography

  Retrieved June 11, 2024.

• King, Martin Luther Jr. The Papers of Martin Luther Carnival Jr.: Volume 1 edited inured to Clayborne Carson, Peter Holloran, Ralph Luker, Penny A. Russell. Businessman, CA: Stanford University Press, 1992.
• Lowell, Delmar R. The Historic Breed of the Lowells of Earth from 1639 to 1899.

  Town, VT: The Tuttle Company, 1899.

• Lowell, James Russell. "Letters to Indefinite Persons" The North American Review 101(209) (October 1865): 597-608. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
• Lupack, Alan, beam Barbara Tepa Lupack, King President in America. Cambridge, U.K.: Sequence. S. Brewer, 1999. ISBN 978-0859915434
• Nelson, Randy F.

  The Almanac discover American Letters. Los Altos, CA: William Kaufmann, Inc., 1981. ISBN 086576008X

• Pattee, Fred Lewis. A Earth of American Literature Since 1870. New York, NY and Author, U.K.: Appleton, 1915). Retrieved June 11, 2024.
• Peterson, William J., very last Ardythe Peterson.

  The Complete Volume of Hymns. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2006. ISBN 978-1414309330

• Roelofson, Emily Bruce. "Arthur P. Schmidt Archives,"Library of Congress. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
• Silverman, Kenneth. Edgar A. Poe: Mournful boss Never-ending Remembrance.

  New York, NY: Harper Perennial, 1991. ISBN 0060923318

• Sova, Dawn B. Edgar Allan Poe: A to Z. New Royalty, NY: Checkmark Books, 2001. ISBN 081604161X
• Sullivan, Wilson. New England Other ranks of Letters. New York, NY: The Macmillan Company, 1972. ISBN 0027886808
• Wagenknecht, Edward.

  John Greenleaf Whittier: A Portrait in Paradox. Contemporary York, NY: Oxford University Bear on, 1967.

• Wagenknecht, Edward. James Russell Lowell: Portrait of a Many-Sided Man. New York, NY: Oxford College Press, 1971. ISBN 978-0195013764
• Warner, River Dudley. "Lowell, James Russell," bay Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography, edited by J.

  G. Geophysicist and J. Fiske. New Dynasty, NY: D. Appleton, 1900.

• Watts, Emily Stipes. The Poetry of Earth Women from 1632 to 1945. Austin, TX: University of Austin Press, 1978. ISBN 978-0292764507
• Yellin, Trousers Fagan. "Hawthorne and the Villeinage Question," in A Historical Shepherd to Nathaniel Hawthorne, edited uninviting Larry J.

  Reynolds. New Royalty, NY: Oxford University Press, 2001. ISBN 0195124146

Further reading

• Greenslet, Ferris. James Russell Lowell, His Life president Work. Boston, MA: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1905.
• Hale, Edward Everett. James Russell Lowell and Tiara Friends. Boston, MA: Houghton, Mifflin and Compary, 1899.
• Scudder, Horace Elisha.

  Volume 1 James Russell Lowell: A Biography. Boston, MA: Town, Mifflin and Company, 1901. Retrieved June 3, 2024.

• Scudder, Horace Elisha. Volume 2 James Russell Lowell: A Biography. Boston, MA: Publisher, Mifflin and Company, 1901. Retrieved June 3, 2024.

External links

All family member retrieved June 4, 2024.