Early American Literature discussion

New members please use this thread to tell us a little about yourself. :) Where are you from? Who is your favorite New England author?

I live in the far north of Maine, "where feeds the moose, and walks the surly bear." Longfellow and Hawthorne are my two favoritest NE authors. :)

Hi my name is Emma and I am from Indiana. I have not read much New England Literature, but I hope to read more in the near future. I have read some Hawthorne and Dickinson. I was actually named after Emily Dickinson. :) I can't wait to read more!

Emma wrote: "Hi my name is Emma and I am from Indiana. I have not read much New England Literature, but I hope to read more in the near future. I have read some Hawthorne and Dickinson. I was actually named aft..."

Welcome Emma! I'm so glad you could join. :) And I love that you are named for Emily Dickinson! I adore her poetry!

Hi! My name is Margaret. I am a relatively recent widow living in Hamilton, Ontario. I have deep roots in New England, and now have vacation property in the mountains of Maine on land settled by an ancestor in the 1700's. My favourite early New England author is Emily Dickinson.

Thanks for inviting me! :) What are some of your favorite Emily Dickinson poems? I'm trying to find some different poems to read.

Hi all, I'm Marian from Washington state. :) One of the places I love best on earth is the Flume Gorge in the White Mountains, New Hampshire. I visited it back in 2009, and felt like I'd stepped into one of Hawthorne's short stories. I think he's my favorite early NE author, but it's hard to choose!

Margaret wrote: "Hi! My name is Margaret. I am a relatively recent widow living in Hamilton, Ontario. I have deep roots in New England, and now have vacation property in the mountains of Maine on land settled by an..."

Welcome Margaret! :) That is fascinating that you have such deep roots in New England...I wish I could say the same but I'm a transplant. My ancestors lived mostly in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Good morning, everyone! I just wanted to add that ai am really excited to be in this group, Meg, and that I also love Longfellow. . My grandparents knew many of Longfellow's poems by heart, and would recite pieces of them to us. My paternal grandfather loved the transcendentalists, and I am eager to dip into their writings again. .... Emma, I haven't read Dickinson lately, so will comment later to let you know a few of my favourite poems.

Marian, we used to drive through the White Mountains on our way back

... on our way back to Canada from Maine. They are absolutely beautiful!

Emma wrote: "Thanks for inviting me! :) What are some of your favorite Emily Dickinson poems? I'm trying to find some different poems to read."

Hmm let's see! I have so many favorites of hers and still don't think I've read them all! :) Some of the poems that come to mind are The Bee is Not Afraid of Me, I Died for Beauty, Purple Clover, Dear March - Come In!, I'm the Little Heart's-Ease!, Have You Got a Brook in Your Little Heart, The Oriole's Secret, "Hope" is the Thing with Feathers, Besides the Autumn Poets Sing, and There is No Frigate Like a Book.

Thanks Meg! Those sound interesting! I'll have to go look through some books to find those. :)

Marian wrote: "Hi all, I'm Marian from Washington state. :) One of the places I love best on earth is the Flume Gorge in the White Mountains, New Hampshire. I visited it back in 2009, and felt like I'd stepped in..."

Welcome Marian! :) Oh I would love to visit Franconia Notch and see the Flume Gorge! We took the Mt. Washington auto road last May and it was just glorious! It was after that trip that I was first introduced to Hawthorne's story 'The Great Stone Face'.

Margaret wrote: "Good morning, everyone! I just wanted to add that ai am really excited to be in this group, Meg, and that I also love Longfellow. . My grandparents knew many of Longfellow's poems by heart, and wou..."

That is beautiful that your grandparents could recite Longfellow's poems, Margaret. I have been trying to work on memorizing poetry. Last year I was ambitious enough to want to memorize 'Evangeline' but I don't know if that is going to happen. Lol! I do have the opening verses of the poem memorized though because I love it so much.
A couple of months ago my dad and I visited the special collections at Bowdoin College library and I got to see and even touch an original manuscript of Longfellow's poem The Rainy Day, as well as a letter he wrote to his sister when he was 16 years old and a new student at Bowdoin. It was an incredibly moving experience!

Emma wrote: "Thanks Meg! Those sound interesting! I'll have to go look through some books to find those. :)"

I hope you enjoy them! If you find any new favorites feel free to share them in the Short Poetry thread. :)

Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "Thanks Meg! Those sound interesting! I'll have to go look through some books to find those. :)"

I hope you enjoy them! If you find any new favorites feel free to share them in the Sho..."

I will! :)

Greetings Ladies,
I'm Ruth from Texas. My favorite New England author and poet is Longfellow. I am reading Evangeline again....one can get lost in this beautiful poem. 📖❤
Thank you Meg for the invitation to your lovely group.
I am looking forward to future reads and the many
discussion we will have.

Ruth wrote: "Greetings Ladies,
I'm Ruth from Texas. My favorite New England author and poet is Longfellow. I am reading Evangeline again....one can get lost in this beautiful poem. 📖❤
Thank you Meg for the invi..."

Welcome Ruth...I'm so glad to have you here! :) I know we will have some lively and interesting discussions!

Hi! My name's Allyson and I'm from Indiana. Longfellow is my absolute favorite poet, none other can compare in my eyes.😉 I'm looking forward to being a part of this group and reading more new England literature!

Nice to meet you Allyson!😄

Emma wrote: "Nice to meet you Allyson!😄"

Likewise, I'm sure. BTW, "There's no frigate like a boat" is my favorite Emily Dickinson poem.😁

Nice! 😀 I'll have to look that one up!

Meg wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Good morning, everyone! I just wanted to add that ai am really excited to be in this group, Meg, and that I also love Longfellow. . My grandparents knew many of Longfellow's poems ..."

Meg wrote: "Margaret wrote: "Good morning, everyone! I just wanted to add that ai am really excited to be in this group, Meg, and that I also love Longfellow. . My grandparents knew many of Longfellow's poems ..."

Hi, Meg...Memorizing "Evangeline" sounds like a very ambitious project! I can imagine what a thrill it was for you to see those Longfellow papers at Bowdoin College. My aunt lives in Brunswick, and hopefully next time I am there I will also visit the Special Collections. Long ago we visited the Longfellow House in Portland. It was a very memorable experience, and it was there I first heard the story of how Longfellow's wife died. It seems that most of us in this group love Longfellow! (I share his birthday!)

Allyson wrote: "Hi! My name's Allyson and I'm from Indiana. Longfellow is my absolute favorite poet, none other can compare in my eyes.😉 I'm looking forward to being a part of this group and reading more new Engla..."

Welcome Allyson! Are you any relation to Emma? :D Longfellow is my favorite poet as well...it may sound like a strong statement, but I think he's the greatest poet ever! :)

Margaret wrote: "Hi, Meg...Memorizing "Evangeline" sounds like a very ambitious project! I can imagine what a thrill it was for you to see those Longfellow papers at Bowdoin College. My aunt lives in Brunswick, and..."

Oh yes you would love the Bowdoin collections! They have a huge collection of Longfellow's works, some first editions. They also have an extensive Hawthorne collection but I didn't have enough time to see nearly all I would have liked.
I would love to visit the Longfellow house in Portland as well. It is terribly sad what happened to his wife. When I look at pictures of him taken after that happened I can see the sorrow in his face.

Meg wrote: "Allyson wrote: "Hi! My name's Allyson and I'm from Indiana. Longfellow is my absolute favorite poet, none other can compare in my eyes.😉 I'm looking forward to being a part of this group and readin..."

Thanks, Meg! Yes, Emma and I are sisters.😊 I totally agree about Longfellow!!

Meg wrote: "Allyson wrote: "Hi! My name's Allyson and I'm from Indiana. Longfellow is my absolute favorite poet, none other can compare in my eyes.😉 I'm looking forward to being a part of this group and readin..."

Yeah we were wondering how long we could keep it a secret 😂

Emma wrote: "Meg wrote: "Allyson wrote: "Hi! My name's Allyson and I'm from Indiana. Longfellow is my absolute favorite poet, none other can compare in my eyes.😉 I'm looking forward to being a part of this grou..."

🙄

You all are making me laugh! :D

Meg wrote: "You all are making me laugh! :D"

My LITTLE sister Allyson likes to do that 😂😂

Emma wrote: My LITTLE sister Allyson likes to do that 😂😂"

LOL! Sounds like my little sister! :)

Emma wrote: "Meg wrote: "You all are making me laugh! :D"

My LITTLE sister Allyson likes to do that 😂😂"

Well my BIG sister Emma likes it when I make her laugh (she just doesn't like to admit it😉)

Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: My LITTLE sister Allyson likes to do that 😂😂"

LOL! Sounds like my little sister! :)"

I guess everyone's got them 😅

Allyson wrote: Well my BIG sister Emma likes it when I make her laugh (she just doesn't like to admit it😉)"

Haha, I'm sure she does! :)

Emma wrote: "I guess everyone's got them 😅"

Yep! And the little sisters have big sisters. :D

Meg wrote: "Emma wrote: "I guess everyone's got them 😅"

Yep! And the little sisters have big sisters. :D"

Very very true! 😆

My name is Doreen. I'm originally from Chelsea, MA but currently live in Dorchester, MA. I have Meg to thank for inviting me to join this group and I am so grateful to her for the invitation! My favorite author is Nathaniel Hawthorne but with everyone's help I would love to explore other early New England authors as well. Hope all are well and staying safe.

Nice to meet you Doreen! :)

Emma wrote: "Nice to meet you Doreen! :)"

Thank you Emma. I'm trying to think of others who would like this group as well. I'm sure in time we'll grow and be popular.

Hi, Doreen!

Welcome Doreen! Thank you for accepting my invitation! I guess it is well-known that I love Mr. Hawthorne's writings as well. :)

Allyson wrote: "Hi! My name's Allyson and I'm from Indiana. Longfellow is my absolute favorite poet, none other can compare in my eyes.😉 I'm looking forward to being a part of this group and reading more new Engla..."

Hi Allyson
Welcome to the group. I agree with you about Longfellow, I didn't appreciate poetry until I read read his work.

Doreen wrote: "My name is Doreen. I'm originally from Chelsea, MA but currently live in Dorchester, MA. I have Meg to thank for inviting me to join this group and I am so grateful to her for the invitation! My fa..."

Hi Doreen,
I am glad you joined us. I, too, have read little of this genre that I am looking forward to new literary gems.
Thank you for your kind wishes,
I hope the same for you and each N.E.L member.

Ruth wrote: "Allyson wrote: "Hi! My name's Allyson and I'm from Indiana. Longfellow is my absolute favorite poet, none other can compare in my eyes.😉 I'm looking forward to being a part of this group and readin..."

Thanks, Ruth! Yeah, I've always loved poetry but he is my role model and who I inspire to write like. I'm really excited because I recently got a beautiful copy of his complete works!!!!😃

Doreen wrote: "My name is Doreen. I'm originally from Chelsea, MA but currently live in Dorchester, MA. I have Meg to thank for inviting me to join this group and I am so grateful to her for the invitation! My fa..."

Welcome aboard, Doreen!!

Allyson wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Allyson wrote: "Hi! My name's Allyson and I'm from Indiana. Longfellow is my absolute favorite poet, none other can compare in my eyes.😉 I'm looking forward to being a part of this gro..."

Congratulations on your new acquisition Allyson! :) I also just recently bought a complete copy of Longfellow's poems.

Meg wrote: "Allyson wrote: "Ruth wrote: "Allyson wrote: "Hi! My name's Allyson and I'm from Indiana. Longfellow is my absolute favorite poet, none other can compare in my eyes.😉 I'm looking forward to being a ..."

Thanks! And congratulations to you too!!

I'm embarrassed to say I don't even own a single poem book. 🤪 Between my Dad and Allyson I haven't really needed to, but I hope to fix that soon! 😅