Letters from America [Paperback]

Rupert Brooke (Author), Henry James (Preface)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1885586698 | ISBN-13: 978-1885586698 | Publication Date: February 1, 2002

With a Preface by Henry James

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In these short letters written mostly for the Westminster Gazette, the 26-year-old British poet jotted down his impressions of a year-long trip to the United States, Canada and the South Pacific. With an adulatory preface by Henry James, they were issued in book form in London in 1916, after Brooke's death, and have never before been published hereand with reason. The pieces consist mainly of overwritten descriptions of scenery and superficial generalities about New York and Boston, Canada's larger cities, Niagara Falls, the Canadian Prairies and Rockies, which any talented young writer might have put down to impress faraway friends. One letter, entitled "Some Niggers," praises the German colonizers of Samoa. Certainly not Brooke's finest writing.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Acclaimed British poet Rupert Brooke (1887–1915) is perhaps best remembered for his war poetry, in particular his five War Sonnets.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Turtle Point Press (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885586698
• ISBN-13: 978-1885586698
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,455,428 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More people should know Brooke for his prose; it is elegant., December 6, 1995

By A Customer

This review is from: Letters from America (Hardcover)

Although "Letters From America" was actually a series of articles that represents the only time in Rupert Brooke's life when he had a paying job,they work well as a book. Written at a juncture in the poet's life when he suffered from considerable emotional strain in his personal relationships, "Letters" is his record of the world beyond England. It is perceptive, elegant writing. Very personal, very interesting (not only for its picture of North America in the early part of this century, but also for its picture of Brooke, with all of his foibles and prejudices).Had he lived through WWI, Rupert Brooke could have been an outstanding prose writer, as "Letters" suggests. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars America in the early 20th century, March 12, 2009

By 

John Kirwan Martin (Montreal QC Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Letters from America (Hardcover)

A fascinating picture of North America in the first years of the 20th century seen through the eyes of a young Englishman from the establishment making a grand tour of America rather than Europe. It is in the tradition of 'travel books' of the period - his impressions of a strange land - and thus also tells us something about people of his class and country.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Would make good waiting room reading, June 14, 2007

By 

BusyReading (Arden, NC) - See all my reviews

I had high hopes for this one as a travel journal of a young person seeing America for the first time sounded interesting. There were some interesting observations Brookes made, such as determining that New York was a "real city" after seeing trash and dead cats and dogs in the river lol. But for the most part, for me the book never really got above being mildly cute and entertaining. While Brooke does write more maturely as a young twenty something in the early 1900s than most would today, his overexcitement over his mostly mundane topics is distracting. Another disappointment was the Henry James intro. Much as I like Henry James, I felt like I read 1/2 the book just trying to get through that intro. Go ahead and glance at this one if you're not particular about what to read or if nothing else is around. Otherwise, there are much more rewarding books out there.