Longfellow's Imaginative Engagement: The Works of His Late Career

Longfellow's late-career poems and biography from 1861–1882 are explored in Jeffrey Hotz's book, Longfellow's Imaginative Engagement, using archival materials from Harvard's Houghton Library and Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site. Hotz interprets Longfellow's narrative poetry, translations, personal lyrics, religious poetry, aesthetic verse, and end-of-life vision of mortality as a journey, considering his friendships, family life, publication strategies, and literary reputation. The book examines Longfellow's complex voice, making him America's most famous poet in the nineteenth century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 600 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press

Longfellow's Imaginative Engagement is a groundbreaking exploration of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's late-career poems and biography, spanning from 1861 to 1882. This literary biography delves into the poet's posthumous publications and the management of his literary estate, utilizing previously unpublished materials from Harvard's Houghton Library and Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site. These materials include unpublished poems and poem fragments, providing a fresh perspective on Longfellow's vibrant and complex final two decades.

Following the untimely passing of his beloved second wife, Frances (Fanny) Elizabeth Appleton, Longfellow underwent a transformative artistic journey. He channeled his grief and the nation's suffering during the Civil War and post-war period into captivating art. In his book, Jeffrey Hotz interprets the distinct phases of Longfellow's late career, examining his narrative poetry, translations, personal lyrics, religious poetry, aesthetic verse, and end-of-life vision of mortality as a journey.

The book also explores Longfellow's friendships and family life, his publication strategies, and his literary reputation. It delves into the recurring theme of longing for an ideal female figure in his poems and private life. By interweaving unpublished poems and poem fragments with interpretations of published collections, the book examines Longfellow's complex voice, which captivated the public's imagination, making him the most famous poet in nineteenth-century America.

Longfellow's Imaginative Engagement offers a profound understanding of Longfellow's artistic evolution and his enduring impact on American literature. It sheds light on his creative process, his relationships, and his enduring fascination with the human experience, making it a valuable contribution to the study of nineteenth-century poetry and culture.

Weight: 1066g
Dimension: 228 x 160 x 51 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781611477757