Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Letters, early writings and classroom memories give Thomas Wentworth Higginson several ways to examine Longfellow's life and reputation. This biography draws on correspondence from the poet's first wife, Harvard College papers and pieces written during his student years. Higginson connects these sources with Longfellow's wish to develop a literature rooted in American material, while the opening chapter considers the reach of his poetry through translations and readers abroad.

The account also brings the poet into view as a teacher. Recalling his own classes at Harvard, Higginson describes Longfellow sitting with students around a table, explaining French literature clearly and treating his pupils with courtesy. These personal observations sit alongside letters about family relationships and chapters on travel, marriage and literary work. Readers interested in how literary fame relates to everyday habits can follow both sides of his life through documents and recollections.