William Cullen Bryant: An American VoiceSimply stated, this book will introduce the surprising literary figure behind a familiar name. Though a mere vestige of William Cullen Bryant’s fame survives through inclusion of “Thanatopsis” and perhaps one or two other poems in school anthologies, the nineteenth century celebrated him as one of its great men. He not only deserved that acclaim, but he was actually a more important writer than his century recognized. Half of this volume consists of a Bryant showcase. Three dozen poems chosen from the hundreds he produced reveal him as a revolutionary of prosody seeking refuge from Calvinism in a pantheistic God. Extracts from his criticism are a homily promoting the prospects for American literary nationalism. Also included here is a pair of his tales which, although almost totally unknown, are among the best work in the genre written before the Civil War. The other half of this new volume presents a concise biography and, of special interest, three groundbreaking new critical studies. Gado argues that Bryant is the Founding Father of American poetry. As a poet of nature, Bryant played a literary role comparable to the influence on art exercised by his good friend Thomas Cole, founder of the Hudson River School. But perhaps even more important was the example Bryant set for Walt Whitman in a relationship explored here for the first time. A much briefer piece discovers the consistent philosophical belief addressed by a lifetime of poems. The third essay is unique in its consideration of Bryant’s short fiction, which has never before received attention. William Cullen Bryant: An American Voice is a landmark publication. |
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Page 101
... things which are the ob- jects of our external senses are the only things which have an existence . Recollect , gentlemen , that you may carry your philosophy too far . You forget how the human mind delights in superstition . You are ...
... things which are the ob- jects of our external senses are the only things which have an existence . Recollect , gentlemen , that you may carry your philosophy too far . You forget how the human mind delights in superstition . You are ...
Page 136
... things of this earth , with their affections and sympathies , their joys and sorrow , and the accidents of fortune to which they are liable , are infinitely a better subject for poetry than any imaginary race of creatures whatever . Let ...
... things of this earth , with their affections and sympathies , their joys and sorrow , and the accidents of fortune to which they are liable , are infinitely a better subject for poetry than any imaginary race of creatures whatever . Let ...
Page 150
... things not affecting the peace and good order of society , does not furnish him with a sufficient diversity of characters , employments , and modes of life , he has yet other resources . He may bring into his plots men whose characters ...
... things not affecting the peace and good order of society , does not furnish him with a sufficient diversity of characters , employments , and modes of life , he has yet other resources . He may bring into his plots men whose characters ...
Contents
BY WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT | 15 |
To the Fringed Gentian 1829 | 73 |
Earths Children Cleave to Earth 1835? | 91 |
Copyright | |
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American poet ancient apple-tree beautiful Berkshires blank verse bloom boughs breath bright brook Bryant Buckel Caspar century character Cummington dark death decades delight dost earth Earth's Children Edgar Allan Poe editor Emerson eyes father fear feet fiction flake flowers forest genius gentle glide grass grave green Green River ground groves hand heart heaven human hump Hymn imagination Indian Spring interest James Kirke Paulding later leaves Leaves of Grass literary living look Medfield mind morning murmur narrative narrator nature New-York Evening Post o'er once pass passion Pennsylvania Legend Peter Bryant's poem poetic political published Richard Henry Dana River rivulet rocks scene seemed shade silent smile Snell society spirit spot story stream summer Thanatopsis thee things thought tree verse voice walk Whitman wild William Cullen William Cullen Bryant wind woods writing York young youth