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Longfellow's Illustrated Poems
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This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
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We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface.
We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
- GenresPoetryClassicsLiterature
417 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1883
12 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
2,879 books735 followersExtremely popular works of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American poet, in the United States in his lifetime, include
The Song of Hiawatha
in 1855 and a translation from 1865 to 1867 of
Divine Comedy
of Dante Alighieri.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow educated. His originally wrote the "Paul Revere's Ride" and "Evangeline." From New England, he first completed work of the fireside.
Bowdoin College graduated Longefellow, who served as a professor, afterward studied in Europe, and later moved at Harvard. After a miscarriage, Mary Potter Longfellow, his first wife, died in 1835. He first collected Voices of the Night (1839) and Ballads and Other Poems (1841).
From teaching, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow retired in 1854 to focus on his writing in the headquarters of of George Washington in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the Revolutionary War for the remainder.
Dress of Frances Appleton Longfellow, his second wife, caught fire; she then sustained burns and afterward died in 1861. After her death, Longfellow had difficulty writing and focused on from foreign languages.
Longfellow wrote musicality of many known lyrics and often presented stories of mythology and legend. He succeeded most overseas of his day. He imitated European styles and wrote too sentimentally for critics.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow educated. His originally wrote the "Paul Revere's Ride" and "Evangeline." From New England, he first completed work of the fireside.
Bowdoin College graduated Longefellow, who served as a professor, afterward studied in Europe, and later moved at Harvard. After a miscarriage, Mary Potter Longfellow, his first wife, died in 1835. He first collected Voices of the Night (1839) and Ballads and Other Poems (1841).
From teaching, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow retired in 1854 to focus on his writing in the headquarters of of George Washington in Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the Revolutionary War for the remainder.
Dress of Frances Appleton Longfellow, his second wife, caught fire; she then sustained burns and afterward died in 1861. After her death, Longfellow had difficulty writing and focused on from foreign languages.
Longfellow wrote musicality of many known lyrics and often presented stories of mythology and legend. He succeeded most overseas of his day. He imitated European styles and wrote too sentimentally for critics.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 30, 2021
As part of my continuing quest to learn more about the Fireside Poets of New England, this little book of poems by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow has made a nice addition to my collection. He remains one of the most famous poets born in the United States as his poems still resound with the people. The intelligentsia may disparage him, but his poetry is simple enough for me.
THE RAINY DAY
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.
Be still, sad heart! And cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
Longfellow suffered personal tragedy when his first wife died after a miscarriage, after just four years of marriage. His second wife accidentally set herself on fire and died in agony the next day. Longfellow burned his face while trying to put out the flames and thereafter he grew his famous beard to hide the scars. A daughter died as just a child. In his life, the rain didn’t just fall. It poured. His son would later be wounded in the American Civil War, adding yet more melancholy to Longfellow’s poems. I think this is why I have a quiet respect for him, for I feel he spoke for everyone, offering that sense of hope even when everything seemed against him. The sun is going to shine in our backyards one day, if we can just get through the storms.
THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH (a snippet)
Toiling, - rejoicing, - sorrowing,
Onward through life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begun,
Each evening sees it close;
Something attempted, something done.
Has earned a night’s repose.
I like the simplicity of that poem, an ode to working. You don’t have to be the greatest at your profession, but if you do the best you can, you feel a sense of accomplishment. That was also the feeling of the United States in general during Longfellow’s lifetime, as the states expanded and a person could build a homestead and work toward a future. Optimism shaded within the monotony of daily tasks.
Longfellow was also the first American to translate Dante and his focus on foreign language translations helped him through his personal loss, when he had difficulty writing original poetry. He remains well known enough that Frank Capra named Gary Cooper’s character, “Longfellow Deeds”, in their most famous screen collaboration, because that name resonated as being the essence of America. It’s the lyricism I admire with some poems really hitting the spot. Yet there is a sense of weariness, a sense of fate that one cannot outrun.
THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS (a snippet)
Such was the wreck of the Hesperus
In the midnight and the snow!
Christ save us all from a death like this,
On the reef of Norman’s Woe!
This volume is from 1900, published by the F.M. Lupton Publishing Company. They specialized in reprints of famous works with cloth covers displaying floral arrangements. I believe this was part of the Daisy Series, so it’s nice to have this little gem on my shelf. As a little historical side note, Mr. Lupton was found dead in 1910, his throat slit and a penknife by his body. They said it was suicide, which I find hard to believe, but that’s a tidbit for book collectors.
Book Season = Year Round (changing feather)
THE RAINY DAY
The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering Past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.
Be still, sad heart! And cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.
Longfellow suffered personal tragedy when his first wife died after a miscarriage, after just four years of marriage. His second wife accidentally set herself on fire and died in agony the next day. Longfellow burned his face while trying to put out the flames and thereafter he grew his famous beard to hide the scars. A daughter died as just a child. In his life, the rain didn’t just fall. It poured. His son would later be wounded in the American Civil War, adding yet more melancholy to Longfellow’s poems. I think this is why I have a quiet respect for him, for I feel he spoke for everyone, offering that sense of hope even when everything seemed against him. The sun is going to shine in our backyards one day, if we can just get through the storms.
THE VILLAGE BLACKSMITH (a snippet)
Toiling, - rejoicing, - sorrowing,
Onward through life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begun,
Each evening sees it close;
Something attempted, something done.
Has earned a night’s repose.
I like the simplicity of that poem, an ode to working. You don’t have to be the greatest at your profession, but if you do the best you can, you feel a sense of accomplishment. That was also the feeling of the United States in general during Longfellow’s lifetime, as the states expanded and a person could build a homestead and work toward a future. Optimism shaded within the monotony of daily tasks.
Longfellow was also the first American to translate Dante and his focus on foreign language translations helped him through his personal loss, when he had difficulty writing original poetry. He remains well known enough that Frank Capra named Gary Cooper’s character, “Longfellow Deeds”, in their most famous screen collaboration, because that name resonated as being the essence of America. It’s the lyricism I admire with some poems really hitting the spot. Yet there is a sense of weariness, a sense of fate that one cannot outrun.
THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS (a snippet)
Such was the wreck of the Hesperus
In the midnight and the snow!
Christ save us all from a death like this,
On the reef of Norman’s Woe!
This volume is from 1900, published by the F.M. Lupton Publishing Company. They specialized in reprints of famous works with cloth covers displaying floral arrangements. I believe this was part of the Daisy Series, so it’s nice to have this little gem on my shelf. As a little historical side note, Mr. Lupton was found dead in 1910, his throat slit and a penknife by his body. They said it was suicide, which I find hard to believe, but that’s a tidbit for book collectors.
Book Season = Year Round (changing feather)
April 23, 2013
I grew up in Longfellow's home town...I have many childhood memories encompassing his home (open for historical tours), my parents clipping articles out of the newspaper about Longfellow, walking past his statue more times than one could count, Longfellow Square as a local landmark...he is part of where I am from, and thus part of me. I had a lovely illustrated copy of The Song of Hiawatha (heavily abridged I think) as a child, a gift from my eldest brother. I wish I could find that book again. There are several poems that speak to me, that move me. Recently it is The Wreck of the Hesperus...I have read it every week for awhile now, researched the basis for it too. Overall though...Longfellow isn't my favorite poet, he's just the one most part of me. The copy of this book I have is beautiful, faded with age and the hands of my ancestors. I am moved to read not just these poems but *this* copy.
June 11, 2021
I lived on Longfellow Place for 11 years and visited the poet's home in Maine with my children, but never before have I read his work so thoroughly. 732 pages of poetry and a play. I'd like to think this is all of his work, but I don't think it is. Honestly, I enjoyed it but it became a slog to read by the end. Perhaps poetry isn't meant to be read like this? But I'm glad I did nonetheless.
October 27, 2016
Longfellow's poems truly are special. I especially love his epic poem Evangeline the best, but his poems on nature, the sea, and the fireside are pertinent, and one can readily relate to them. In this collection is even a play called the Spanish Student, which had an awesome ending. The right kind of poetry soothes the soul, and Longfellow has just the right touch.
June 6, 2018
my favorite book of poetry
September 2, 2019
My "go-to" poet, he has the words to describe what my heart feels. So soothing at the end of a weary day.
January 23, 2025
Wow, that took over a year to finish all of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poems! Reading intermittently, that is. I enjoy his style. It was old-fashioned in his time, but he had interesting subjects. I do think the hype about The Song of Hiawatha was justified. He did a lot of translations that I kind of skimmed through. Here were my favorite poems and “epic” poems:
The Beleaguered City
Burial of the Minnisink
Song of the Bell (tr)
The Village Blacksmith
Excelsior (yes, that Excelsior!)
The Occultation of Orion
The Bridge
The Day is done
To an Old Danish Song-Book
The Old Clock on the Stairs
The Arrow and the Song
The Builders
Sand of the Desert in an Hour-Glass
The Song of Hiawatha
The Courtship of Miles Standish
Haunted Houses
The Children’s Hour
A Day of Sunshine
The Meeting
The Castle-Builder
Christmas Bells (yes, the Christmas carol)
Charles Sumner
Travels by the Fireside
The Three Kings
To the River Rhone
Holidays
The Poet and His Songs
The Poet’s Calendar
Auf Wiedersehen, In Memory of J.T.F.
Moonlight
Autumn Within
My Books
Michael Angelo
The Beleaguered City
Burial of the Minnisink
Song of the Bell (tr)
The Village Blacksmith
Excelsior (yes, that Excelsior!)
The Occultation of Orion
The Bridge
The Day is done
To an Old Danish Song-Book
The Old Clock on the Stairs
The Arrow and the Song
The Builders
Sand of the Desert in an Hour-Glass
The Song of Hiawatha
The Courtship of Miles Standish
Haunted Houses
The Children’s Hour
A Day of Sunshine
The Meeting
The Castle-Builder
Christmas Bells (yes, the Christmas carol)
Charles Sumner
Travels by the Fireside
The Three Kings
To the River Rhone
Holidays
The Poet and His Songs
The Poet’s Calendar
Auf Wiedersehen, In Memory of J.T.F.
Moonlight
Autumn Within
My Books
Michael Angelo
March 23, 2022
This was...a lot. This seemed to be a compilation of most of his work, including footnotes by the author. Obviously this was put together after his death, so I'm wondering how they got these notes (they're in the first person).
Why did nobody tell me the Song of Hiawatha was so long?! This volume had so much in it my heads exploding. Translations, and poems against slavery, and his well-known ballads and epics, and the little ditties we learned in elementary school, and just a LOT.
This was a valuable book to have and I'm very glad my library had it.
Why did nobody tell me the Song of Hiawatha was so long?! This volume had so much in it my heads exploding. Translations, and poems against slavery, and his well-known ballads and epics, and the little ditties we learned in elementary school, and just a LOT.
This was a valuable book to have and I'm very glad my library had it.
December 4, 2020
This is not the way.
February 29, 2020
Longfellow is considered a great American poet, and most people know at least some of his work ("The Song of Hiawatha" being the best-known). Honestly, though, I found him rather dull and heavy going. There are a few moments that sparkle, but many quite leaden passages. He's better in small doses - the problem with that being that he wrote a number of quite lengthy poems.
June 29, 2019
Loved this. So many nights, our Mother read poetry to us at bedtime. Rereading these brought back so many memories.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews