Customer Reviews

The Letters of John Greenleaf Whittier: Vols. 1, 2, and 3 (Belknap Press)

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John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) was a bachelor, devout Quaker, anti-slavery activist, a leading 19th century American poet and a good man. From the time that I read "Snowbound" in high school he has been my favorite poet, based upon his writing and his character as a man.

It is for these two qualities, plus the added feature of his place in 19th century literature and reform, that I found his letters endearing, though I will concede that other well-known letter writers may write with more critical acumen. I purchaed this three volume set of Whittier's LETTERS October 1979 and began reading on average two letters a day, finishing the 1488 letters, along with footnotes, on 17 December 1981, Whittier's 174th birthday.

The work is made much more valuable by the assiduous editorial work put into it by John B. Pickard, a descendant of Matthew Franklin Whittier, brother of John Greenleaf. Good introductions, copious and informative footnotes and a marvelous index provide a warm scholarship that enhances the value of the set. Pickard published all of the known letters of Whittier from 1828 to 1860 in the first two volumes and selected letters from 1861 to 1892 in the third volume.