First published 2015
William Sloane Kennedy presents a comprehensive examination of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the Cambridge poet who became America's most celebrated literary voice of the 19th century. Kennedy traces Longfellow's journey from his Maine childhood through his years at Bowdoin College, his European travels, and his eventual rise to fame as a Harvard professor and poet. The biography explores how Longfellow crafted enduring works like "The Song of Hiawatha" and "Paul Revere's Ride" while navigating personal tragedies, including the death of his beloved wife Frances in a tragic fire. Kennedy reveals the man behind poems that shaped American identity, showing how Longfellow balanced his roles as educator, family man, and national bard. This scholarly work illuminates the poet's creative process and his influence on American literature.
Genres: biography, literature, american, biography-memoir, 19th-century, academic, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
Setting: America, Cambridge, Maine
Period: 19th-Century
374 pages · Hardcover · Sagwan Press