Longfellow: A Rediscovered Life

by Charles C. Calhoun

In the first biography of Longfellow in almost fifty years, Charles C. Calhoun seeks to solve a mystery: Why has one of America's most famous writers fallen into oblivion? His answer to this question takes us through a life story that reads like a Victorian family saga and reveals the man who introduced Americans to the literatures of other countries while creating a gallery of American icons - among them Paul Revere, John and Priscilla Alden, Miles Standish, the Village Blacksmith, Hiawatha, and Evangeline.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History

332 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Longfellow, his friends and colleagues, and his times were interesting enough that even Calhoun's sloggy writing style didn't prevent me from finishing this book. (Granted, I don't read very many biographies, maybe this is good writing compared to most. I dunno.)

But mostly Calhoun's defense of the current relevance of Longfellow's oeuvre is "he had this stuff in his life, and he tried so hard to be true to himself and to be a good citizen for his nation, and his stuff was popular and influential then, so you *must* read it now." Whereas I was looking for maybe a more close analysis, not too academic but still more careful.

Still, I have book-darted passages to share!

I love the letter his mother, Zilpah, wrote after an excursion in the woods: "We remained there two or three hours, contemplating the beauty and the grandeur of the scene, and observing the descent of the logs over the falls. The river drivers were at work... and innumerable logs, some of them very large, came thundering over the falls with the utmost rapidity, much to our amusement." This to illustrate the early (white) American idea that the wilderness could inexhaustibly serve us both spiritually and in a utilitarian sense.

I am reminded of a complaint I have about Calhoun's writing - he never explains context. There is no map of Europe to show the extent of Longfellow's expeditions, for example, nor any reminder of the key battles, figures, political parties, and other elements of history... if I cared, I would have had to spend thrice the time reading this for the need of constant research.

At one point Longfellow defended poetry against those who thought the pursuit of it unmanly by saying "the natural tendency of poetry is to give us correct moral impressions, and thereby advance the cause of truth and the advancement of society." Hm. In a way, he's got a point. Consider Allen Ginsberg's Howl, even, in a radically different approach, but same base effort.

Calhoun reveals that Washington Irving had (at least) two different styles: Salmagundi is "earthier, more burlesque" and The Sketch Book (which includes Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle) is more "cool, urbane, [with a] slightly bemused tone."

Many of Longfellow's works became "cultural artifacts" within his lifetime. He was a major celebrity, and while children would memorize pieces from his works, and ordinary people be moved by them, some scholars would write parodies of them. Including Lewis Carroll who wrote one of The Song of Hiawatha about a photographer which imo isn't worth looking up. As an aside, Calhoun mentions that Carroll's Alice's White Rabbit is from Hiawatha. Well, there is a white rabbit in Longfellow's epic, but I don't find any reason to think that Carroll didn't come up with his entirely on his own. (Iow, I think Calhoun is getting overeager... ;)

In any case one of the most immediately most successful poems of the time was A Psalm of Life, which I do not know by that title but I bet most of us can recognize at least one idiom from....

Longfellow was also a good father. He wrote a little storybook for his children, in which he included this reminder to himself: "Ah yes! help him to be good! That is what children most need. Not so much chiding and lecturing; but a little more sympathy, a little help to be good. You can see through their transparent faces the struggle that is going on within. A soft, gentle word often decides the victory!"

Calhoun convincingly gives credit to Longfellow for advancing the case for the study of Comparative Literature, and for being a Multiculturalist. He even finds him presciently an environmentalist, in The Birds of Killingworth .. which I must read, perhaps in situ in Tales of a Wayside Inn.

Well, do I recommend this? I dunno. I'm glad I read it... but I would rather have read just my review of it and been satisfied with that. ;)

[Frank Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ran into this book in a thrift shop while shopping with my daughter. It's good stuff. Four points:
1. Longfellow is a contemporary of Tennyson. I think I never kept them straight. The Longfellow Bridge should have been a hint, I guess.
2. The middle name is Wadsworth (his mother's family) not Wordsworth, as I thought when playing Authors in the late 1950s. You would think that a poet would have Wordsworth as a middle name.
3. His writing skill didn't come out of nowhere. As proof, here is a letter from his aunt, written from Portland, ME in 1828.
Dear Henry,
I am unwilling to be the only member of the family who does not express, in form of a letter, the affection they feel for you, still I am aware that a letter from a maiden aunt cannot afford you much amusement, for to be written in character, it must contain sage maxims and advice, cautions against the temptations to which you are so constantly exposed, against dissipation of every kind, urgent entreaties to take special care of your health, recipes for colds, coughs, &c and tho' much age will entitle me to do all this, yet I am not so thoroughly initiated into the mysteries and privileges of a "state of single blessedness", as will induce me to undertake it, therefore I cannot pursue this course. all useful and necessary counsel you will receive from your parents, all domestic information from others, of the family, all accounts of matter and things in general, from your numerous correspondents, and the the mouth of Edward [Preble] himself. flights of imagination, sentiment and all that, you know I never attempt a letter on science and literature is altogether out of my line, so what remains for me, but to assure you that I love you as well as any of your friends do, that I feel as great an interest in your welfare and happiness, and shall rejoice as much, when the objects of your tour are attained, and you return again to your friends.
Your aunt
LW.
4. It is reported in this book that Nietzsche said - what a philosopher Emerson would have made, if only he had had an education.

[Maya Greally · Rating 3 out of 5]

had to read this book for work, for a biography about a man i don’t care about it was a good read

[Joshua · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent intro to the life of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Charles Calhoun hits the highlights of Longfellow's life while also focusing on his literary works. This book is half a biography and half a literature review. It is interesting to see some of the influences and experiences that inspired Longfellow and how his work has been received over the past century. Longfellow's life is an interesting account of the early American republic and the search for what American culture would be. The inclusion of pieces of Longfellow's poetry really helps Calhoun's descriptions.
At the same time that the literature review helps you understand the importance of Longfellow's work, ultimately the second half of the book doesn't have as much focus on Longfellow's personal life. The first half is personal enough about Longfellow's life and family that the absence of it in the second half comes across as dry. Interesting, but dry.

[Sydney]

Refreshing to read about a venerable author who led a relatively well-adjusted life. While he has fallen out of academic favor, and the biography makes one think about the value of such judgment, Longfellow created so much of the American Ideal that we still hold dear. A highly readable biography!

Now I'm excited to dig into his poetry - even if it's no longer cool according to academe.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subtitle says it all about this biography of Longfellow. Calhoun would like us to take a second look at the man who was once the most popular (and most recited) poet in the land. And indeed, we learn here that Longfellow was devoted to learning other languages and cultures, and making them part of his life and work -- admiral qualities. Longfellow's reputation and popularity have faded to the extent that it's doubtful this fine book will revive them. On the other hand, literary reputations come and go, so you never know.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually a well researched biography about the “American myth” maker, Longfellow.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't normally read this genre, but I am taking a class through the Maine Humanities Council on teaching history through biography, and this is the first book we are required to read. It is very interesting because through the biography, I got a sense of what life was like in Portland, Maine in the mid-1800s.

[Kara Merry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a tremendously interesting book about Longfellow. Enormously good happy life but when his wife dies Longfellow becomes elusive and depressed. Great book and would love to learn more of his psychology.

[Gabriela Francisco]

Very interesting read. Especially appreciated the excerpts from his poetry. Will definitely read his other poems (his PSALM OF LIFE remains to be a favorite).

[Edward Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new, relatively unsentimental look. Not a great book, but quite readable and I learned a few things about the poet.