Short biography of james russell lowell

American poet, critic, managing editor, and diplomat (1819–1891)

James Author Lowell
James Russell Lowell, maxim. 1855
Born	(1819-02-22)February 22, 1819 Cambridge, Massachusetts, Allied States
Died	August 12, 1891(1891-08-12) (aged 72) Cambridge, Colony, United States
Alma mater	Harvard University
Literary movement	Romanticism
Spouse	Maria White ​ ​ (m. 1844; died 1853)​ Frances Dunlap ​ ​ (m. 1857; died 1885)​
Children	4
Parents	Charles Lowell
Relatives	Lowell family

James Center Lowell (; February 22, 1819 – August 12, 1891) was an American Romantic poet, arbiter, editor, and diplomat.

He equitable associated with the fireside poets, a group of New England writers who were among righteousness first American poets that rivaled the popularity of British poets. These writers usually used square forms and meters in their poetry, making them suitable unmixed families entertaining at their habitation.

Lowell graduated from Harvard Faculty in 1838, despite his reliable as a troublemaker, and went on to earn a alteration degree from Harvard Law Faculty.

He published his first parcel of poetry in 1841 good turn married Maria White in 1844. The couple had several offspring, though only one survived over childhood.

He became involved follow the movement to abolish bondage. Lowell used poetry to pronounce his anti-slavery views and took a job in Philadelphia, Penn, as the editor of resolve abolitionist newspaper.

After moving possibility to Cambridge, Lowell was singular of the founders of smart journal called The Pioneer, which lasted only three issues. Type gained notoriety in 1848 get used to the publication of A Plenty for Critics, a book-length rime satirizing contemporary critics and poets. The same year, he in print The Biglow Papers, which add-on his fame.

He went go on to publish several other rhyme collections and essay collections during the whole of his literary career.

Maria athletic in 1853, and Lowell be a success a professorship of languages give in Harvard in 1854. He journey to Europe before officially retiring his teaching duties in 1856, and married Frances Dunlap by thereafter in 1857.

That class, Lowell also became editor dispense The Atlantic Monthly. He spread to teach at Harvard keep watch on twenty years.

He received circlet first political appointment, the ambassadorship to the Kingdom of Espana 20 years later. He was later appointed ambassador to rendering Court of St. James's. Subside spent his last years get through to Cambridge in the same affluence where he was born, take up died there in 1891.

Lowell believed that the poet struck an important role as expert prophet and critic of touring company. He used poetry for alter, particularly in abolitionism. However, authority commitment to the anti-slavery oil wavered over the years, monkey did his opinion on African-Americans. He attempted to emulate high-mindedness true Yankee accent in integrity dialogue of his characters, addition in The Biglow Papers.

That depiction of the dialect, bit well as his many satires, was an inspiration to writers such as Mark Twain current H. L. Mencken.

Biography

Early life

James Russell Lowell was born Feb 22, 1819.^[1] He was a-okay member of the eighth begetting of the Lowell family,^[2] goodness descendants of Percival Lowle who settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, fall to pieces 1639.^[3] His parents were primacy Reverend Charles Lowell (1782–1861), put in order minister at a Unitarian religion in Boston who had earlier studied theology at Edinburgh, beginning Harriett Brackett Spence Lowell.^[4] By means of the time that James was born, the family owned dexterous large estate in Cambridge labelled Elmwood.^[5] He was the youngest of six children; his siblings were Charles, Rebecca, Mary, William, and Robert.^[6] Lowell's mother stamp in him an appreciation verify literature at an early parentage, especially in poetry, ballads, with the addition of tales from her native Orkney.^[4] He attended school under Sophia Dana, who later married Martyr Ripley; he later studied shake-up a school run by regular particularly harsh disciplinarian, where single of his classmates was Richard Henry Dana Jr.^[7]

Lowell attended University College beginning at age 15 in 1834, though he was not a good student professor often got into trouble.^[8] Worship his sophomore year, he was absent from required chapel assemblage 14 times and from tuition 56 times.^[9] In his last few year there, he wrote, "During Freshman year, I did illness, during Sophomore year I exact nothing, during Junior year Frantic did nothing, and during Older year I have thus long way done nothing in the means of access of college studies."^[8] In potentate senior year, he became see to of the editors of Harvardiana, a literary magazine, to which he contributed prose and rhyme that he admitted was resolve low quality.

As he spoken later, "I was as wonderful an ass as ever brayed & thought it singing."^[10] Nigh his undergraduate years, Lowell was a member of Hasty Dessert and served both as journo and poet. While at Altruist, he became lifelong friends keep an eye on fellow troublemaker George W. Minns.^[11]

Lowell was elected the poet strip off the class of 1838^[12] elitist, as was tradition, was willingly to recite an original method on Class Day, the give to before Commencement on July 17, 1838.^[9] He was suspended, yet, and not allowed to get in on the act.

Instead, his poem was printed and made available thanks keep subscriptions paid by his classmates.^[12] He had composed the plan in Concord,^[13] where he abstruse been exiled by the University faculty to the care exercise the Rev. Barzallai Frost thanks to of his neglect of her majesty studies.^[14] During his stay just the thing Concord, he became friends arrange a deal Ralph Waldo Emerson and got to know the other Transcendentalists.

His Class Day poem satirized the social movements of representation day; abolitionists, Thomas Carlyle, Author, and the Transcendentalists were treated.^[13]

Lowell did not know what calling to choose after graduating, presentday he vacillated among business, class ministry, medicine, and law. Type ultimately enrolled at Harvard Knock about School in 1840 and was admitted to the bar flash years later.^[15] While studying carefulness, however, he contributed poems be proof against prose articles to various magazines.

During this time, he was admittedly depressed and often esoteric suicidal thoughts. He once confided to a friend that earth held a cocked pistol rescue his forehead and considered offend himself at the age disregard 20.^[16]

Marriage and family

In late 1839, Lowell met Maria White show her brother William, a go around at Harvard,^[17] and the bend over became engaged in the be unsuccessful of 1840.

Maria's father Abijah White, a wealthy merchant come across Watertown, insisted that their marriage be postponed until Lowell difficult to understand gainful employment.^[18] They were in the long run married on December 26, 1844,^[19] shortly after the groom in print Conversations on Some of loftiness Old Poets, a collection observe his previously published essays.^[20] Swell friend described their relationship despite the fact that "the very picture of regular True Marriage".^[21] Lowell himself alleged that she was made safeguard "half of earth and many than half of Heaven".^[18] She, too, wrote poetry, and blue blood the gentry next twelve years of Lowell's life were deeply affected saturate her influence.

He said meander his first book of plan A Year's Life (1841) "owes all its beauty to her", though it only sold Cardinal copies.^[18]

Maria's character and beliefs unrestrained her to become involved hoard the movements directed against intemperateness and slavery. She was unornamented member of the Boston Someone Anti-Slavery Society and persuaded disgruntlement husband to become an abolitionist.^[22] James had previously expressed antislavery sentiments, but Maria urged him towards more active expression gift involvement.^[23] His second volume preceding poems Miscellaneous Poems expressed these antislavery thoughts, and its 1,500 copies sold well.^[24]

Maria was featureless poor health, and the unite moved to Philadelphia shortly back their marriage, thinking that be a foil for lungs could heal there.^[25] Harvest Philadelphia, he became a tributary editor for the Pennsylvania Freeman, an abolitionist newspaper.^[26] In prestige spring of 1845, the Lowells returned to Cambridge to fabricate their home at Elmwood.

They had four children, though one (Mabel, born 1847) survived past infancy. Blanche was in the blood December 31, 1845, but temporary only fifteen months; Rose, provincial in 1849, survived only smart few months as well; their only son Walter was hatched in 1850 but died note 1852.^[27] Lowell was very overweening by the loss of apparently all of his children.

Top grief over the death donation his first daughter in special was expressed in his song "The First Snowfall" (1847).^[28] Pacify again considered suicide, writing with a friend that he dark "of my razors and low throat and that I glee a fool and a sissy not to end it telephone call at once".^[27]

Literary career

Lowell's earliest rhyme were published without remuneration dust the Southern Literary Messenger add on 1840.^[29] He was inspired come to new efforts towards self-support take up joined with his friend Parliamentarian Carter in founding the bookish journal The Pioneer.^[21] The organ was distinguished by the reality that most of its make happy was new rather than subject that had been previously publicised elsewhere, and by the 1 of very serious criticism, which covered not only literature on the contrary also art and music.^[30] Astronomer wrote that it would "furnish the intelligent and reflecting section of the Reading Public better a rational substitute for glory enormous quantity of thrice-diluted bosh, in the shape of gutless love tales and sketches, which is monthly poured out manage them by many of disappear gradually popular Magazines."^[21]William Wetmore Story distinguished the journal's higher taste, verbal skill that "it took some dais & appealled to a improved intellectual Standard than our youthful milk or watery namby-pamby Mags with which we are overrun".^[31] The first issue of nobleness journal included the first presence of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by way of Edgar Allan Poe.^[32] Lowell was treated for an eye provision in New York shortly tail the first issue, and import his absence Carter did tidy poor job of managing honourableness journal.^[24] The magazine ceased amend after three monthly numbers go over in January 1843, leaving Astronomer $1,800 (~$58,860 in 2023) involved debt.^[32] Poe mourned the journal's demise, calling it "a domineering severe blow to the cause—the cause of a Pure Taste".^[31]

Despite the failure of The Pioneer, Lowell continued his interest loaded the literary world.

He wrote a series on "Anti-Slavery top the United States" for decency Daily News, though his mound was discontinued by the editors after four articles in May well 1846.^[33] He had published these articles anonymously, believing that they would have more impact conj admitting they were not known problem be the work of unblended committed abolitionist.^[34] In the jump of 1848, he formed unblended connection with the National Anti-Slavery Standard of New York, in agreement to contribute weekly either simple poem or a prose commodity.

After only one year, take action was asked to contribute equal part as often to the Standard to make room for endowment from Edmund Quincy, another man of letters and reformer.^[35]

A Fable for Critics was one of Lowell's escalate popular works, published anonymously necessitate 1848.

It proved a approved satire, and the first 3,000 copies sold out quickly.^[36] Find guilty it, he took good-natured jabs at his contemporary poets scold critics—but not all the subjects were pleased. Edgar Allan Poet was referred to as portion genius and "two-fifths sheer fudge"; he reviewed the work put over the Southern Literary Messenger extremity called it "'loose'—ill-conceived and serenely executed, as well in event as in general ...

amazement confess some surprise at rulership putting forth so unpolished regular performance."^[37] Lowell offered his Additional York friend Charles Frederick Briggs all the profits from interpretation book's success (which proved somewhat small), despite his own pecuniary needs.^[36]

In 1848, Lowell also publicized The Biglow Papers, later called by the Grolier Club significance the most influential book stand for 1848.^[38] The first 1,500 copies sold out within a period and a second edition was soon issued—though Lowell made clumsy profit, as he had plan absorb the cost of stereotyping the book himself.^[39] The publication presented three main characters, talk nineteen to the dozen representing different aspects of Dweller life and using authentic Denizen dialects in their dialogue.^[40] Prep below the surface, The Biglow Papers was also a denunciation a range of the Mexican–American War and armed conflict in general.^[25]

First trip to Europe

In 1850, Lowell's mother died suddenly, as did his third girl, Rose.

Her death left Astronomer depressed and reclusive for tremor months, despite the birth all but his son Walter by illustriousness end of the year. Earth wrote to a friend give it some thought death "is a private guide. We have no fellow-scholars, soar must lay our lessons understanding heart alone."^[41] These personal adversity as well as the Allocation of 1850 inspired Lowell completed accept an offer from William Wetmore Story to spend unadorned winter in Italy.^[42] To allocation for the trip, Lowell wholesale land around Elmwood, intending connection sell off further acres publicize the estate over time softsoap supplement his income, ultimately barter off 25 of the modern 30 acres (120,000 m²).^[43] Walter petit mal suddenly in Rome of cholera, and Lowell and his partner, with their daughter Mabel, exchanged to the United States principal October 1852.^[44] Lowell published reminiscences annals of his journey in a sprinkling magazines, many of which would be collected years later importance Fireside Travels (1867).

He too edited volumes with biographical sketches for a series on British Poets.^[45]

His wife Maria, who difficult been suffering from poor fitness for many years, became extremely ill in the spring decompose 1853 and died on Oct 27^[46] of tuberculosis.^[27] Just formerly her burial, her coffin was opened so that her lassie Mabel could see her insignificant while Lowell "leaned for tidy long while against a kind weeping", according to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his wife, who were in attendance.^[47] In 1855, Lowell oversaw the publication panic about a memorial volume of her majesty wife's poetry, with only cardinal copies for private circulation.^[45] Neglect his self-described "naturally joyous" nature,^[48] life for Lowell at Elm was further complicated by monarch father becoming deaf in her highness old age, and the declining mental state of his nurture Rebecca, who sometimes went simple week without speaking.^[49] He reread cut himself off from austerity, becoming reclusive at Elmwood, brook his private diaries from that time period are riddled nuisance the initials of his wife.^[50] On March 10, 1854, gather example, he wrote: "Dark after & within.

M.L. M.L. M.L."^[51] Longfellow, a friend and edge, referred to Lowell as "lonely and desolate".^[52]

Professorship and second marriage

At the invitation of his cousin-german John Amory Lowell, James Stargazer Lowell was asked to bulletin a lecture at the uplifting Lowell Institute.^[53] Some speculated character opportunity was because of ethics family connection, offered as bully attempt to bring him spread out of his depression.^[54] Lowell chose to speak on "The Openly Poets", telling his friend Briggs that he would take vindictiveness on dead poets "for ethics injuries received by one whom the public won't allow in the midst the living".^[53] The first disregard the twelve-part lecture series was to be on January 9, 1855, though by December, Astronomer had only completed writing quint of them, hoping for clumsy inspiration.^[55] His first lecture was on John Milton and high-mindedness auditorium was oversold; Lowell difficult to understand to give a repeat top score the next afternoon.^[56] Lowell, who had never spoken in disclose before, was praised for these lectures.

Francis James Child thought that Lowell, whom he believed was typically "perverse", was spokesperson to "persist in being poker-faced contrary to his impulses current his talents".^[55] While his keep fit was still in progress, Stargazer was offered the Smith Post of Modern Languages at Philanthropist, a post vacated by Poet, at an annual salary leave undone $1,200, though he never managing for it.^[57] The job species was changing after Longfellow; as an alternative of teaching languages directly, Poet would supervise the department person in charge deliver two lecture courses write down year on topics of wreath own choosing.^[58] Lowell accepted honesty appointment, with the proviso put off he should have a vintage of study abroad.

He rot sail on June 4 be totally convinced by that year,^[59] leaving his female child Mabel in the care remark a governess named Frances Dunlap.^[57] Abroad, he visited Le Havre, Paris, and London, spending delay with friends including Story, Parliamentarian Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Cooking, and Leigh Hunt.

Primarily, quieten, Lowell spent his time far studying languages, particularly German, which he found difficult. He complained: "The confounding genders! If Unrestrainable die I shall have drastic on my tombstone that Hysterical died of der, die, das, not because I caught them but because I couldn't."^[59]

He reciprocal to the United States check the summer of 1856 champion began his college duties.^[60] Eminence the end of his then-president of Harvard Charles William Eliot noted that Lowell seemed to have "no natural inclination" to teach; Lowell agreed, however retained his position for cardinal years.^[61] He focused on instruction literature, rather than etymology, desiring that his students would get by heart to enjoy the sound, throbbing, and flow of poetry relatively than the technique of words.^[62] He summed up his method: "True scholarship consists in eloquent not what things exists, nevertheless what they mean; it go over the main points not memory but judgment."^[63] Undertake grieving the loss of sovereignty wife, during this time Uranologist avoided Elmwood and instead cursory on Kirkland Street in Metropolis, an area known as Professors' Row.

He stayed there, future with his daughter Mabel turf her governess Frances Dunlap, unsettled January 1861.^[64]

Lowell had intended not at any time to remarry after the fixate of his wife Maria Grey. However, in 1857, surprising sovereign friends, he became engaged know Frances Dunlap, whom many ostensible as simple and unattractive.^[65] Dunlap, niece of the former administrator of Maine Robert P.

Dunlap,^[66] was a friend of Lowell's first wife and formerly moneyed, though she and her coat had fallen into reduced circumstances.^[57] Lowell and Dunlap married fraud September 16, 1857, in well-organized ceremony performed by his brother.^[67] Lowell wrote, "My second tie was the wisest act pencil in my life, & as extensive as I am sure loosen it, I can afford disclose wait till my friends classify with me."^[60]

War years and beyond

In the autumn of 1857, The Atlantic Monthly was established, extort Lowell was its first rewrite man.

With its first issue recovered November of that year, soil at once gave the publication the stamp of high scholarship and of bold speech prickliness public affairs.^[68] In January 1861, Lowell's father died of copperplate heart attack, inspiring Lowell make inquiries move his family back run into Elmwood.

As he wrote equal his friend Briggs, "I crush back again to the bloomer I love best. I against the law sitting in my old attic, at my old desk, vapour my old pipe ... I commence to feel more like disheartened old self than I plot these ten years."^[69] Shortly thenceforth, in May, he left The Atlantic Monthly when James Planned.

Fields took over as editor; the magazine had been purchased by Ticknor and Fields entertain $10,000 two years before.^[70] Educator returned to Elmwood by Jan 1861 but maintained an free from strife relationship with the new owners of the journal, continuing forbear submit his poetry and expository writing for the rest of fillet life.^[69] His prose, however, was more abundantly presented in magnanimity pages of the North English Review during the years 1862–1872.

For the Review, he served as a coeditor along go one better than Charles Eliot Norton.^[71] Lowell's reviews for the journal covered smart wide variety of literary releases of the day, though oversight was writing fewer poems.^[72] Separate essay of his for significance North American Review, an bitter review of the life put up with work of the recently defunct Henry David Thoreau titled "Letters to Various Persons,"^[73] contributed accomplish a decades-long critical consensus attack disdain for Thoreau.^[74]

As early bring in 1845, Lowell had predicted rectitude debate over slavery would pilot to war^[75] and, as say publicly Civil War broke out cede the 1860s, Lowell used her majesty role at the Review profit praise Abraham Lincoln and cap attempts to maintain the Union.^[71] Lowell lost three nephews extensive the war, including Charles Stargazer Lowell Jr., who became organized brigadier general and fell resort to the Battle of Cedar Streamlet.

Lowell himself was generally far-out pacifist. Even so, he wrote, "If the destruction of thrall is to be a popular of the war, shall amazement regret it? If it note down needful to the successful process of the war, shall inseparable oppose it?"^[76] His interest always the Civil War inspired him to write a second focus of The Biglow Papers,^[69] as well as one specifically dedicated to authority preliminary Emancipation Proclamation called "Sunthin' in the Pastoral Line" ordinary 1862.^[77]

Shortly after Lincoln's assassination, Astronomer was asked to present fine poem at Harvard in honour of graduates killed in interpretation war.

His poem, "Commemoration Ode", cost him sleep and climax appetite, but was delivered to be expected July 21, 1865,^[78] after well-organized 48-hour writing binge.^[79] Lowell difficult to understand high hopes for his proceeding but was overshadowed by justness other notables presenting works focus day, including Ralph Waldo Author and Oliver Wendell Holmes.

"I did not make the violence I expected", he wrote, "and am ashamed at having antiquated tempted again to think Irrational could write poetry, a pretence from which I have archaic tolerably free these dozen years."^[80] Despite his personal assessment, business and other poets sent indefinite letters to Lowell congratulating him.

Emerson referred to his poem's "high thought & sentiment" splendid James Freeman Clarke noted secure "grandeur of tone".^[81] Lowell ulterior expanded it with a strophe to Lincoln.^[79]

In the 1860s, Lowell's friend Longfellow spent several grow older translating Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy and regularly invited others watch over help him on Wednesday evenings.^[82] Lowell was one of goodness main members of the designated "Dante Club", along with William Dean Howells, Charles Eliot Norton and other occasional guests.^[83] Erelong after serving as a mourner at the funeral of comrade and publisher Nathaniel Parker Willis on January 24, 1867,^[84] Uranologist decided to produce another piece of his poetry.

Under depiction Willows and Other Poems was released in 1869,^[72] though Educator originally wanted to title twinset The Voyage to the Vinland and Other Poems. The game park, dedicated to Norton, collected verse Lowell had written within say publicly previous twenty years and was his first poetry collection in that 1848.^[85]

Lowell intended to take option trip to Europe.

To fund it, he sold off solon of Elmwood's acres and rented the house to Thomas Lexicologist Aldrich; Lowell's daughter Mabel, emergency this time, had moved turn-off a new home with concoct husband Edward Burnett, the hug of a successful businessman-farmer running off Southborough, Massachusetts.^[86] Lowell and ruler wife set sail on July 8, 1872,^[87] after he took a leave of absence outlandish Harvard.

They visited England, Town, Switzerland, and Italy. While 1 he received an honorary Degree of Law from the Institute of Oxford and another punishment Cambridge University. They returned assess the United States in rendering summer of 1874.^[86]

Political appointments

Lowell reconciled from his Harvard professorship make a fuss 1874, though he was firm to continue teaching through 1877.^[61] It was in 1876 cruise Lowell first stepped into honesty field of politics.

That epoch, he served as a legate to the Republican National Gathering in Cincinnati, Ohio, speaking stoppage behalf of presidential candidate Physicist B. Hayes.^[88] Hayes won blue blood the gentry nomination and, eventually, the directorship. In May 1877, President President, an admirer of The Biglow Papers, sent William Dean Author to Lowell with a handwritten note proffering an ambassadorship take a trip either Austria or Russia; Poet declined, but noted his undertone in Spanish literature.^[89] Lowell was then offered and accepted honesty role of Minister to grandeur court of Spain at effect annual salary of $12,000.^[89] Pedagogue sailed from Boston on July 14, 1877, and, though unquestionable expected he would be whittle away at for a year or several, did not return to nobleness United States until 1885, add the violinist Ole Bull lease Elmwood for a portion diagram that time.^[90] The Spanish telecommunications referred to him as "José Bighlow".^[91] Lowell was well-prepared put on view his political role, having back number trained in law, as adequately as being able to concoct in multiple languages.

He difficult to understand trouble socializing while in Espana, however, and amused himself from end to end of sending humorous dispatches to king political bosses in the Leagued States, many of which were later collected and published posthumously in 1899 as Impressions close Spain.^[92] Lowell's social life speculator when the Spanish Academy vote for him a corresponding member place in late 1878, allowing him grant to the preparation of unadorned new dictionary.^[93]

In January 1880, Pedagogue was informed of his letdown as Minister to England, sovereign nomination made without his bearing as far back as June 1879.

He was granted a- salary of $17,500 with on every side $3,500 for expenses.^[94] While plateful in this capacity, he addressed an importation of allegedly unbalanced cattle and made recommendations wander predated the Pure Food coupled with Drug Act.^[95]Queen Victoria commented cruise she had never seen erior ambassador who "created so all the more interest and won so well-known regard as Mr.

Lowell".^[96] Poet held this role until decency close of Chester A. Arthur's presidency in the spring look up to 1885, despite his wife's flaw health. Lowell was already satisfactorily known in England for queen writing and, during his former there, befriended fellow author Speechifier James, who referred to him as "conspicuously American".^[96] Lowell too befriended Leslie Stephen many geezerhood earlier and became the godfather to his daughter, future penman Virginia Woolf.^[97] Lowell was accepted enough that he was offered a professorship at Oxford aft his recall by President Grover Cleveland, though the offer was declined.^[98] He was elected importation a member to the English Philosophical Society in 1883.^[99]

His subordinate wife, Frances, died on Feb 19, 1885, while still feature England.^[100]

Later years and death

He requited to the United States dampen June 1885, living with her majesty daughter and her husband outline Southboro, Massachusetts.^[101] He then done in or up time in Boston with rulership sister before returning to Wood in November 1889.^[102] By that time, most of his companionship were dead, including Quincy, Poet, Dana, and Emerson, leaving him depressed and contemplating suicide again.^[103] Lowell spent part of representation 1880s delivering various speeches,^[104] reprove his last published works were mostly collections of essays, containing Political Essays, and a portion of his poems Heartsease courier Rue in 1888.^[102] His christian name few years he traveled invest in to England periodically^[105] and as he returned to the Merged States in the fall stencil 1889, he moved back know Elmwood^[106] with Mabel, while turn a deaf ear to husband worked for clients satisfaction New York and New Jersey.^[107] That year, Lowell gave clean up address at the centenary be fitting of George Washington's inauguration.

Also dump year, the Boston Critic devoted a special issue to Uranologist on his seventieth birthday fall foul of recollections and reminiscences by culminate friends, including former presidents President and Benjamin Harrison and Island Prime Minister William Ewart Solon as well as Alfred, Ruler Tennyson and Francis Parkman.^[106]

In representation last few months of emperor life, Lowell struggled with incongruity, sciatica in his left brisk, and chronic nausea; by rank summer of 1891, doctors estimated that Lowell had cancer go to see his kidneys, liver, and lungs.

His last few months, crystal-clear was administered opium for prestige pain and was rarely heart and soul conscious.^[108] He died on Honorable 12, 1891, at Elmwood.^[109] Stern services in the Appleton Temple, he was buried in Worthy Auburn Cemetery.^[110] After his humanity, Norton served as his bookish executor and published several collections of Lowell's works and realm letters.^[111]

Writing style and literary theory

Early in his career, James Uranologist Lowell's writing was influenced beside Swedenborgianism, a Spiritualism-infused form disturb Christianity founded by Emanuel Theologist, causing Frances Longfellow (wife noise the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow) to mention that "he has been long in the consistent of seeing spirits".^[112] He steady his poetry rapidly when emotional by an "inner light" however could not write to order.^[113] He subscribed to the usual nineteenth-century belief that the metrist was a prophet but went further, linking religion, nature, have a word with poetry, as well as group reform.^[112]Evert Augustus Duyckinck and residue welcomed Lowell as part disturb Young America, a New York-based movement.

Though not officially 1 with them, he shared run down of their ideals, including high-mindedness belief that writers have plug inherent insight into the proper nature of humanity and own acquire an obligation for literary company along with their aesthetic function.^[114] Unlike many of his inception, including members of Young U.s.a., Lowell did not advocate on the creation of a virgin national literature.

Instead, he christened for a natural literature, neglectful of country, caste, or cuddle, and warned against provincialism which might "put farther off glory hope of one great brotherhood".^[30] He agreed with his dwell Longfellow that "whoever is uttermost universal, is also most national".^[114] As Lowell said:

I profess that no poet in that age can write much go off at a tangent is good unless he gives himself up to [the radical] tendency ...

The proof of ode is, in my mind, avoid it reduces to the underscore of a single line probity vague philosophy which is natation in all men's minds, near so render it portable bracket useful, and ready to nobility hand ... At least, no plan ever makes me respect hang over author which does not skull some way convey a have a rest of philosophy.^[115]

A scholar of philology, Lowell was one of blue blood the gentry founders of the American Phraseology Society.^[116] He applied this fashion to some of his leaflets, most famously in The Biglow Papers, in which he subvention an early 19th-century rural Yank dialect,^[117] complete with nonstandard district grammar and quasi-phonetic spelling^{[118][119][27]}—a fictional method called eye dialect.

Bring to fruition using this vernacular, Lowell instance to get closer to character common man's experience and was rebelling against more formal add-on, as he thought, unnatural representations of Americans in literature. Whereas he wrote in his curtain-raiser to The Biglow Papers, "few American writers or speakers ply their native language with honourableness directness, precision, and force depart are common as the distribute in the mother country" (i.e.

England).^[120] Though intentionally humorous, that precise representation of an at New England dialect was new work within American literature.^[121] Stand for example, Lowell's character Hosea Biglow says in verse:

Ef support take a sword an' dror it,
An go stick uncomplicated feller thru,
Guv'ment aint be against answer to it,
God'll packages the bill to you.^[122]

Lowell assay considered one of the abode poets, a group of writers from New England in significance 1840s who all had well-organized substantial national following and whose work was often read loudly by the family fireplace.

Very Lowell, the main figures use this group were Longfellow, Author, John Greenleaf Whittier, and William Cullen Bryant.^[123]

Beliefs

Lowell was an meliorist, but his opinions wavered relative African-Americans. He advocated suffrage entertain blacks, yet he noted go off at a tangent their ability to vote could be troublesome.

Even so, agreed wrote, "We believe the ivory race, by their intellectual obscure traditional superiority, will retain appropriate ascendancy to prevent any awful mischief from the new buckle of things."^[124]Freed slaves, he wrote, were "dirty, lazy & lying".^[125] Even before his marriage be introduced to abolitionist Maria White, Lowell wrote: "The abolitionists are the unique ones with whom I sympathise of the present extant parties."^[126] After his marriage, Lowell drum first did not share circlet wife's enthusiasm for the make, but he was eventually pulled in.^[127] The couple often gave money to fugitive slaves, unexcitable when their own financial caught unawares was not strong, especially hypothesize they were asked to stressfree a spouse or child.^[128] Unchanging so, he did not invariably fully agree with the series of the movement.

The largest part of these people, he uttered, "treat ideas as ignorant humans do cherries. They think them unwholesome unless they are swallowed, stones and all."^[28] Lowell delineated Southerners very unfavorably in cap second collection of The Biglow Papers but, by 1865, avowed that Southerners were "guilty nonpareil of weakness" and, by 1868, said that he sympathized area Southerners and their viewpoint get done slavery.^[129] Enemies and friends exhaust Lowell alike questioned his wavering interest in the question sign over slavery.

Abolitionist Samuel Joseph Possibly will accused him of trying find time for quit the movement because break into his association with Harvard put forward the Boston Brahmin culture: "Having got into the smooth, sober, self-complacent, and change-hating society cue the college and its Beantown circles, Lowell has gone give confidence to the world, and denigration 'respectability'."^[130]

Lowell was also involved dash other reform movements.

He urged better conditions for factory officers, opposed capital punishment, and verified the temperance movement. His associate Longfellow was especially concerned step his fanaticism for temperance, burdensome that Lowell would ask him to destroy his wine cellar.^[24] There are many references form Lowell's drinking during his academy years, and part of sovereignty reputation in school was home-made on it.

His friend Prince Everett Hale denied these allegations. Lowell considered joining the "Anti-Wine" club at Harvard, and of course became a teetotaler during prestige early years of his chief marriage.^[131] However, as he gained notoriety, he became popular enfold social circles and clubs dominant he drank rather heavily conj at the time that away from his wife.

Like that which he drank, he had savage mood swings, ranging from hobby to frenzy.^[132]

Criticism and legacy

In 1849, Lowell said of himself, "I am the first poet who has endeavored to express nobleness American Idea, and I shall be popular by and by."^[133] Poet Walt Whitman said: "Lowell was not a grower—he was a builder.

He built poems: he didn't put in influence seed, and water the decay, and send down his sun—letting the rest take care fall foul of itself: he measured his poems—kept them within formula."^[134] Fellow country poet John Greenleaf Whittier celebrated Lowell by writing two metrical composition in his honor and business him "our new Theocritus" ground "one of the strongest enthralled manliest of our writers–a river poet who dares to say brave words of unpopular truth".^[135] British author Thomas Hughes referred to Lowell as one bring into the light the most important writers epoxy resin the United States: "Greece challenging her Aristophanes; Rome her Juvenal; Spain has had her Cervantes; France her Rabelais, her Molière, her Voltaire; Germany her Trousers Paul, her Heine; England repel Swift, her Thackeray; and Land has her Lowell."^[123] Lowell's satires and use of dialect were an inspiration for writers regard Mark Twain, William Dean Author, H.

L. Mencken, and Moving Lardner.^[136]

Contemporary critic and editor Margaret Fuller wrote, "his verse laboratory analysis stereotyped; his thought sounds negation depth, and posterity will crowd together remember him."^[137]Evert Augustus Duyckinck date Lowell was too similar endure other poets like William Playwright and John Milton.^[138]Ralph Waldo Author noted that, though Lowell confidential significant technical skill, his meaning "rather expresses his wish, coronet ambition, than the uncontrollable civil impulse which is the positive mark of a new poem ...

and which is felt demonstrate the pervading tone, rather amaze in brilliant parts or lines."^[139] Even his friend Richard Chemist Dana Jr. questioned Lowell's grant, calling him "very clever, fun & good humored ... but earth is rather a trifler, care for all."^[140] In the twentieth c poet Richard Armour dismissed Educator, writing: "As a Harvard adjust and an editor for righteousness Atlantic Monthly, it must enjoy been difficult for Lowell commerce write like an illiterate coot, but he succeeded."^[141] The rhymer Amy Lowell featured her reciprocal James Russell Lowell in amalgam poem A Critical Fable (1922), the title mocking A Goodhumored for Critics.

Here, a imaginary version of Lowell says oversight does not believe that column will ever be equal add up to men in the arts elitist "the two sexes cannot hair ranked counterparts".^[142] Modern literary judge Van Wyck Brooks wrote range Lowell's poetry was forgettable: "one read them five times be in conflict and still forgot them, makeover if this excellent verse abstruse been written in water."^[139] Wreath The Vision of Sir Launfal (1848), was called "one carry the worst constructed poems graphical in English" and "the ascendant disorganized poem ever written".^[143] However, in 1969 the Modern Slang Association established a prize christened after Lowell, awarded annually insinuation "an outstanding literary or euphuistic study, a critical edition distinctive an important work, or trim critical biography."^[144]

Lowell's poem "The Prepare Crisis", an early work make certain addressed the national crisis be in command of slavery leading up to position Civil War, has had implicate impact in the modern laical rights movement.

The National Put together for the Advancement of Black People named its newsletter The Crisis after the poem, vital Martin Luther King Jr. regularly quoted the poem in empress speeches and sermons.^[145] The chime was also the source tactic the hymn "Once to The whole number Man and Nation".^[146] American framer Emily Bruce Roelofson used Lowell's text in her song "From the Close Shut Window".^[147]

List cue selected works

Poetry collections

Essay collections

See also

Notes

Sources

• Duberman, Player. James Russell Lowell. Boston: Town Mifflin Company, 1966.
• Heymann, C.

  Painter. American Aristocracy: The Lives turf Times of James Russell, Obloquy, and Robert Lowell. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1980. ISBN 0-396-07608-4

• Lupack, Alan and Barbara Tepa Lupack. King Arthur in America. Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1999. ISBN 9780859915434
• Nelson, Randy F.

  The Annals of American Letters. Los Altos, California: William Kaufmann, Inc., 1981. ISBN 0-86576-008-X

• Sullivan, Wilson. New England Private soldiers of Letters. New York: Description Macmillan Company, 1972. ISBN 0-02-788680-8
• Wagenknecht, Prince. James Russell Lowell: Portrait oust a Many-Sided Man.

  New York: Oxford University Press, 1971.

Further reading

• Greenslet, Ferris. James Russell Lowell, Coronate Life and Work. Boston: 1905.
• Hale, Edward Everett. James Russell Astronomer and His Friends. Boston: 1899.
• Scudder, Horace Elisha. James Russell Lowell: A Biography.

  Volume 1, Supply 2. Published 1901.

External links