The Poems of James Russell Lowell [Paperback]

James Russell Lowell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 16, 2004

1892. With biographical sketch by Nathan Haskell Dole. Lowell is one of the group of authors sometimes called the Fireside Poets, or the Schoolroom Poets, a group which also included Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier, and Oliver Wendell Holmes. Because of their conservative approach to verse and the often blatant morality in their poetry, the very qualities that made them popular in their day, have put them out of favor for much of the twentieth century. However, given that Lowell was an ardent abolitionist he may not have been considered conservative in his day. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 700 pages
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing, LLC (April 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1417909757
• ISBN-13: 978-1417909759
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.9 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,830,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting as a time piece, May 5, 2006

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J from NY (New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Poems of James Russell Lowell (Paperback)

I have to admit that after reading about Russell's life I expected him to have been one of those undeservedly neglected poets, overshadowed a little perhaps by the very prominent crew he hung with--Longfellow, the guy-you-love-to-hate:Oliver Wendell Holmes. That just isn't the case: these are more exercises in puritan morality than anything else, the language he employs is too archaic. In the end, Lowell is more a didactic moralist than a poet.

Poor Poe's criticism of Lowell as more of a proselytizer than a poet was unfortunately correct, and his criticism should have garnered more respect than it received. But then, Lowell was in high standing with the society of the time, as Edgar most certainly was not.

Still, there is a freshness of breath and a spirit here that cannot be denied. Lowell has a few shavings of Whitman in his determination to say what he has to say in a cheerful manner, whether we like it or not. Some of these poems are like candy of a sort, (coated with plutonium occasionally), and some neat old-style encouragements to younger poets.

Lowell's letters are incredible. His assessment of readers, writers and poets alike are tremendously enjoyable. Maybe in the end he was more a man of the postal exchange. Anyway, this worth a read.

A much lesser Swinburne?