Product Description
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was an American poet. He wrote the first American translation of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy and was one of the five members of the group known as the Fireside Poets. He established his literary career by submitting poetry and prose to various newspapers and magazines. Between January 1824 and his graduation in 1825, he had published nearly 40 minor poems. About 24 of them appeared in the short-lived Boston periodical The United States Literary Gazette. After graduating in 1825, he was offered a job as professor of modern languages at his alma mater. The story, possibly apocryphal, is that an influential trustee, Benjamin Orr, had been so impressed Longfellow's translation of Horace that he was hired under the condition that he travel to Europe to study French, Spanish and Italian. When he returned to the United States in 1836, Longfellow took up the professorship at Harvard University. He began publishing his poetry, including Voices of the Night in 1839 and Ballads and Other Poems, which included his famous poem The Village Blacksmith, in 1841. His other works include Paul Revere's Ride, A Psalm of Life, The Song of Hiawatha, Evangeline and Christmas Bells. ... Read more

Product Description
This handsome volume contains eight of the most popular of Longfellow's poems, including "The Wreck of the Hesperus," "The Village Blacksmith," "Paul Revere's Ride," and excerpts from "The Song of Hiawatha." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Excellent!
This book was a gift for my brother, and he is an english major so this should come in handy for sure.

A revelation
My wife and I are enjoying this book immensely. We previously knew Longfellow only from extracts in anthologies.
It is nice to read all of Hiawatha. And much of the other material is new to us, especially the works about Michelangelo. His novel and table-talk are also pleasant surprises; we would have liked some of his non-fictional writing.
The notes are interesting, but it would have been helpful to indicate in the text where a note occurs. And some more material about Longfellow and his times would have been nice; there is a nice chronology. There is too much about the textual sources.
But the quibbles are minor. Longfellow is worth a revival and this book goes a long way.

Too short.
The poetry and novella here are very enjoyable to read.It is smooth, well-written, melodious poetry, and one realizes why Longfellow was so loved in his own day.Longfellow, with others, such as Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost, is one of the great American poets.Unfortunately, Library of America chose to only publish a selection of his work.As before noted by another reviewer, "Tales of a Wayside Inn" is only partial, though the "Song of Hiawatha" is here complete (thankfully). This seems inexcusable, since Library of America found time and space for all of Poe, Whitman, Frost, and Stevens, not to mention minor poets like Emerson and Thoreau.Longfellow, as one of the major American poets, deserves better.So 5 stars for his poetry, but 3 stars for this edition of LoA.

Longfellow
A refresher course of my favorite poems all in one volume.I even discovered one of my favorite Christmas songs was actually a poem by Longfellow.I keep it on my coffee table

McClatchy does it again
This time he presents an edition of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's books that's every bit as timely and interesting as his own very 20th century poems.

McClatchy's own writing in every field is widely acclaimed, and in a way he is the Longfellow we deserve, with both poems of spiritual affirmation and the poetry of doubt, jostling side by side, uneasy in harness.Longfellow's book Tales of a Wayside Inn is given a dramatic reading here, for McClatchy selects not only the best of the Tales but also tries to find room for the body and the heart in all its different avatars. His excerpts from Michael Angelo are, as well, in tune with what we now know and feel about Michelangelo in the present time of the early 21st century, that he was as great a poet as he was a painter and sculptor, and probably a gay man to boot.Poems like Longfellow's HIAWATHA and EVANGELINE are sensitively edited to bring forward their multicultural and ecological interests.All in all, Longfellow may be the most forwardlooking of all the poets of 19th century USA, and that's a strong statement considering we are putting him ahead of (among others) Emerson, Poe, Dickinson, Whitman, Very, and Melville. ... Read more

Product Description
A selection of Longfellow's poetry from the 19th century. Revealing differing tones, styles and themes, these works provide a picture of Longfellow's sense of himself, and his understanding of the true state of the times in which he lived. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The Hobo Philosopher
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Selected Poems

Book Review

By Richard Edward Noble

I decided to reacquaint myself with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow because of a remark I read in another book. It was commented in this other reading that Henry in his day was America's most read and beloved poet and eventually supported himself on his poetry.

I truly admire any poet who has been able to make a living writing poetry. I only know of a few: Robert Service, Rod Mckuen, Rudyard Kipling, possibly Ogden Nash, John Milton - most poets had a day job. They have traditionally been school teachers or college professors, ministers and preachers.

Walt Whitman is a typical sad story of a struggling poet - so too is Edgar Allen Poe. So when I read someone who actually made a living at that art, I am curious to say the least. All else said to the contrary they must have had something.

I sent for this nice little volume. The book itself is very nice with one of those little "strings" to mark the pages - like in a bible.

I've read the entire book aloud. I enjoy reading poetry aloud. I read my poetry aloud at bed time. My wife takes out her hearing aids and is snoring while I'm inflecting and projecting to my heart's content.
This is a wonderful collection with lots of old favorites ... Paul Revere's Ride, Song of Hiawatha, The Courtship of Miles Standish, The Village Blacksmith and The Wreck of the Hesperus. But since I never sat down before and read a whole volume of Longfellow there were many that I had never read or heard. The Children's Hour is famous but I had never read it before - also The Cross of Snow - two very beautiful poems.

The fact that Longfellow was so popular back in 1888 leads me to think that Americans, on the average, must have been much more intelligent than those mulling around us today. It is a complement to the population of that era that they chose to make this man comfortable in his old age by purchasing his lovely poetry with their hard earned pennies, nickels and dimes.

Longfellow was an historian. Much of his writing is historical. He is also clearly a classical poet - writing in the tradition of Dante, Milton, Edmund Spenser and the like. His poetry is excellent. It sings. Get this volume and read it out loud to yourself (or to someone else, for that matter. It is wonderful. You don't have to understand every line - just listen to it.

He also seemed to be a very nice man - one whose life I intend to explore more deeply.

Books written by Richard Noble - The Hobo Philosopher:
"Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A.."
"A Summer with Charlie" Salisbury Beach, Lawrence YMCA
"A Little Something: Poetry and Prose
"Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother" Novel - Lawrence, Ma.
"The Eastpointer" Selections from award winning column.
"Noble Notes on Famous Folks" Humor - satire - facts.
"America on Strike" American Labor - History
"A Baker's Dozen" Short Stories

Romantic gem for the untainted
Longfellow appears to be one of those poets afflicted with a severe case of schoolcurriculumnitis. My regrets!

You know thedisease - in the upper echelons of high school you are fed a safe selection of poems and novellas (actual novels of course being too unwieldy for the teacher) and then asked to analyse the living daylights outta 'em. Needless to say you are put off these cursed authors for life.

Coming from a different language, no one ever tried to poison the Longfellow well for me so I find this late-romantic poetry quite enjoyable. 'Evangeline' was a bit too saccharine but 'The Courtship of Miles Standish' was moving, as was 'John Endicott'.

Annoying as always are my friends over at Penguin who, after all these years, still manage to put out a book that looks aged before even being read. After perusing it it is it ripe for a stoop sale. I know it's cheap but can't you do better? Pretty please?

Longfellow
I wanted a book of Longfellow poems and this is the best compact miscellany on the market

Where have you gone, Mr. Longfellow?
Longellow is the poet of the American public school. 'Evangeline' 'The Courtship of Miles Standish' 'Paul Revere's Ride' ' The Village Blacksmith' ' 'A Psalm of life' and others. His reputation in the nineteenth century was great and overwhelming. Yet his reputation in the realm of poetry today is not with those artists of the canon, Tennyson and Browning in England, and Whitman and Dickinson in the United States. Perhaps it isbecause his poems are taken to be not inventive enough linguistically.Perhaps it is because the very thing many have praised him for his musicality seems today to be less than the irregular music of a Hopkins or Dylan Thomas.
In any case in Longfellow one will find sound solid lines, a certain moral stance , a kind of American integrity. For someone like myself reading Longfellow is a nostalgic trip and a new perspective on what I read so long ago. He has much to give even if it is not quite at the highest poetic level.

you want it you got it
I love this book it is something that men and women would enjoy. I have tons of information on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow because our house is a remake of his he lived from 1807-1882. If I were you I would buy it I amthe biggest fan of his I have every single book of poems,songs,and more onhim in paperback and hardcover. Buyit! ... Read more

Product Description
Longfellow's classic tribute to the famous revolutionary hero is brought to vivid life by luminous paintings that follow the journey of a daring man riding on horseback under the full moon. Reprint. K. AB. Amazon.com Review
"Listen, my children, and you shall hear/Of the midnightride of Paul Revere ..." So begins one of the most stirring poemsin American literature.Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote "PaulRevere's Ride" in 1861, nearly 100 years after the actualmidnight ride that began on April 18, in 1775. The poem creates asuspenseful story as American colonist Paul Revere decides with hisfriend Robert Newman and others to avert a British attack on Concord,Massachusetts. The British had come from Boston in search of thecolonists' arms supply. What Revere and his friends didn't know waswhether the Redcoats would come by land (around the mouth of theCharles River) or by sea (across the river). Newman spotted theBritish "by sea" and signaled from the Old North Churchtower to Revere, who was "Ready to ride and spread thealarm/Through every Middlesex village and farm,/For the country folkto be up and to arm." And, by morning, the country folk wereready, indeed. "Chasing the red-coats down the lane,/Thencrossing the fields to emerge again/Under the trees at the turn of theroad,/And only pausing to fire and load." This battle, the firstof the American Revolution, drove the British back to Boston.

TedRand--well-loved illustrator of The Hullabaloo ABC,Mailing May,Knots on a CountingRope, and many other critically acclaimed titles--masters themood and movement of the famous midnight ride, and children will lovethe power and drama of this historic American event. (Greatread-aloud, ages 4 to 8) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Gorgeous Illustrations, Good Background Info at End
This is the full text of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's Paul Revere's Ride.Most of us are familiar with the beginning lines:

"Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,..."

and this book is a wonderful introduction to the full poem for the next generation.There are vibrant illustrations which are not only attractive but really draw you into the mood of the story.The beginning and end of the book have a map charting out his ride, so that you can follow along visually.Finally, at the end, there is background information about the events that prompted this ride and the end result of it.

I read this book with my 7 yo and 5 yo.First, I gave a very brief 15-second background explanation, and it helped that they had a very basic knowledge of the Revolutionary War and are used to me reading to them more advanced books.Then I read the poem, with them looking at the pictures, only rarely stopping to explain a particular word, and then went through the explanation at the end.They enjoyed it, and were drawn into the poem.Even though the words are complex, if read well, and with the accompaniment of the pictures and basic background understanding, it can be engaging to the younger set.I expect they will get more from it as they get older, and I plan to be reading this book with my children at least once a year as part of our homeschooling.Definitely would recommend this book for the elementary-aged set, and I will probably give it as a gift to my nieces and nephews in the future.

Beautifully Illustrated
The text is the classic Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem, and the paintings give it new life for the visually-oriented kids of today. This book will help them visualize what the poem is talking about, which becomes more important as time passes and kids are less accustomed to reading the words of older poems. If you want kids to really appreciate this famous poem, this book should help them connect with it.

It DOES contain the whole thing...
Just a point of correction on the review given by Seidur above--the Ted Rand illustrated edition not only contains the complete Longfellow poem, it is also correctly titled (contrary to two erroneous criticism made by Seidur). It is, I think, the best edition of this wonderful poem.

Great for Kids
A great introduction to Longfellow and the roots of this great Country. The artwork is beautiful. A good book for young children learning to read.

Great book for teaching history to young children
For the last two days I have read Paul Revere's Ride by Longfellow to my 4 and 7 year old. We have learned the history, vocabulary words, the different methods the artist used to illustrate the poem, and many other interesting facts. They are begging for more! What are great book! Longfellow makes history come to life. You can just feel the night air in Revere's face as he so courageously warns the people. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Formatting too bad even if it was free!
I don't mind problem formatting when it is limited to paragraph indention problems, spacing issues or even breaking up lines of poetry.But I draw the line, even in a $0.99 book when words are broken up for no good reason.Not worth giving away free in my estimation.

Unable to Navigate
I am new to Kindle and this is one of the first books I purchased. I was immediately disappointed when I turned on the Kindle and navigated to the table of contents. I was looking forward to searching, by poem, from the contents tables. After an hour of hopelessly navigating and attempting to use the search function I gave up and put the book into my archive. I suppose this review is more critical of the type of medium used than of the works themselves. However I believe it is very relevant to those that are contemplating the purchase of this book for Kindle. I made the decision to give a one star rating because the book is useless if it can't be navigated.

Henry Wadsworth Review
Pretty good condition, the first few pages were bent at the top, but other than that, great book!

still worth 99 cents
This edition does not have a navigable table of contents and has awkward line breaks in the longer poems.On the other hand it was only 99 cents.

COMPLETE Satisfaction!
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is known as one of America's best known and best loved poets of all time.The Complete Poetical Works, covers I believe, everything ever writteb by this exquisite poet.

You will find your most treasured and well-loved favorites, as well as the most obscure findings in this brilliant collection.This is a "must-have" for all fans of Longfellow and his works.

It'(mostly)lyric style poetry with a rhyming rhythm that is sure to bring memories back to long-time followers of Longfellow and new poetry lovers as well.He writes with an easy to understand method and obvious themes, these poems come back to me just as easy as some of my favorite mother goose stories, childhood songs, and rhymes.

I do want to point out that I bought this tome on Kindle, and the print in this collection of poems shows up perfectly formatted and just the right size (not small or tiny) without any adjustment to the font.There are no complaints regarding how these works show up on the kindle whatsoever, so if you are a kindle owner and a poetry owner, this is a solid buy at just .99.Actually, it's an amazing value.

I can honestly, without reserve, recommend this book to all who love Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, American Poetry and Poets. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
Distinguished poet Horace Gregory has selected thirty-seven of Longfellow's most enduring poems for this edition, the only paperback of Longfellow's poetry in print. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Virtues and Faults of an American Poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was not a great poet, and his poetry is not particularly profound. But he was a good poet. His verse displays intelligence and sometimes emotional power. Here is a fairly representative collection of thirty-seven poems by Longfellow that allow us to observe him at his best and at his worst, but with the good pieces far outweighing the bad.

Two faults of Longfellow that have been frequently cited by modern readers are a tendency to be overly sentimental and a tendency to moralize. You can see both of these traits in the last four verses of "The Village Blacksmith". Similarly, "Seaweed" (not in this collection) begins with some absolutely beautiful descriptive imagery and then tapers off with three rather tedious didactic verses.

But some qualifications should be made. "Psalm of Life" is purely didactic-- a sermon from begining to end. But a lively verse form and a series of snappy lines and images save the day. "The Wreck of the Hesperus" contains a moral in the last two lines of the poem: "Christ save us from a death like this/ On the reefs of Norman's Woe". But it is done so smoothly that it seems a natural part of the ballad. Not all moralizing by Longfellow is trite, superficial, or platitudinous.

Similarly, some efforts to appeal to emotion succeed. There is the crisp excitement of "Paul Revere's Ride," and the quiet nostalgia of "My Lost Youth." There is the dignified grief for the death of a fellow writer in "Hawthorne," and the powerful feelings of grief for the death of his wife in "The Cross of Snow". I personally find "The Children's Hour" to be nausiously cute, but I suppose that there are many who will love its humor. I did like the relaxed feel of "The Day is Done," though I confess that its last verse reminded me of a parody-- Longfellow is easy to parody-- that I learned as a child:

An Arab stood on a vending machine,
In the light of the lingering day.
A counterfeit penny he put in the slot,
And silently stole a weigh.

Longfellow's long poems are fairly well represented in this collection. It contains the complete texts of "Evangeline" and "The Courtship of Miles Standish". In addition, there are six selections from "The Song of Hiawatha" and two selections from "The Saga of King Olaf". I would have liked to have seen a few more selections from "King Olaf," which I believe is one of Lonfellow's very best poems-- and also one of his strangest. But on the balance, this is not a bad selection for modern readers.

Part of the appeal of this book lies in the extra features that it offers. There is a short story by Longfellow that reminds me a bit of the Alfred Hitchcock movie, _The Trouble with Harry_. See what you think. In addition, there are three critical essays (by Horace Gregory, Van Wyck Brooks, and Norman Holmes Pearson) and a parody of "Hiawatha" by Lewis Carroll.

Altogether, an excellent introductory collection to a solid American poet. You are likely to reread these pieces as if you are encountering old friends who have given you comfort and pleasure in the past. But don't expect to reread them with radically new insights over and over. With Longfellow, what you see on a first reading is what you will get forever after.

A great anthology of a true poet's work.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is perhaps the greatest rhymester to have ever lived. His endless rhymes almost seem to stay in one's mind, refusing to go. And this edition of his collected poetry just shows Longfellow at his best.

This here is poetry that - though over a hundred years old - isstill fresh and alive with vigor. The poems tell tales of men and women, ofbirds and beast, and of gods and demigods (such as found in The Song ofHiawatha) in such magnificent form that it isn't a wonder why Longfellowwas known to be the greatest American poet of his time.

"A poemshould not mean but be," Archibald MacLeish wrote in "ArsPoetica." These poems are not intricate, and they're notincomprehensible, and they're definitely not senseless nor pointless; theyare timeless, rhetoric voices of literature that tell so much . . . of somuch.

And besides, how much times do we come across a poet who does notwant to talk about how he feels and his emotions? It seems to be all thatpoets want to write about. It's good to sometimes read poems that simplywant to tell stories and not what the Soul, or the Heart, or the Mindfeels. Those things can be nice, but can make one ponder more than he orshe should.

Another thing that will become apparent to the reader ofthis book is that Longfellow was a keen observer of people. In these poems,he writes about them very well. "The Village Blacksmith," forexample, is a brilliant poem that tells of one ordinary man with anordinary occupation: being a blacksmith. It's not of some Don Juan, or RobRoy, or Casanova that in real life are as scarce as an honest politician.The story of the man in the poem - how he toils, and mourns, and triumphs,and suffers - is one that anyone can relate to.

It is even possible tofind comfort in these poems that simply tell stories and not of emotionalissues. Also, as I aforementioned, the iambic tales will stay in your mindas you might find it hard to forget them. It is probably the simplicity ofthese poems that make them so easy to memorize, and are probably what madeLongfellow great. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process.We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide.We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Nice change of pace
Carries me away.Great read.This guy can write...has a great future.It is entrancing, haunting.I wanted it to go on.In addition to the lyrical euphoria, this gives a great perception of the life and times surrounding the historic conflict and relocation.I am encouraging all my friends to put down their heavy, current books and revive the other side of their brains.

For all who love Evangeline, this will not disappoint!
I have a passion for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's lyrical lines of Evangeline. Therefore, I was uneasy in the purchase of Evangeline, A Novel. I shouldn't have been. Finis Fox's insight into the lives, loves and losses of the Acadians is remarkable.He adds to the story lines rather than detracting from them.His words are at once romantic and colorful, lulling you into passive reflection. The emotions are all there, the joy, the pain and the suffering. He does not stray far from Longfellow's poem, using the same names of people and places.It is a story worth reading! It would be worth the price if it were twice as much.I wish it could have been longer, but in staying true to Longfellow, the story moved much the same as did the poem. If you loved Evangeline, you will love this novel as much or maybe more!

What I was looking for.
I bought two of this item. My step mother wanted to find this storybook for a long time friend. So one for my stepmom and one for her friend. Both books arrived in first class condition and the subject matter was exactly what was wanted. Worth the price and I'm thankful that such literature is still printed. I was surprised to find the story was about early Nove Scotia and it's people.

Evangeline by Longfellow
Evangeline is Longfellow's masterpiece. The poem begins with
the famous "forest primeval" . The reader is taken to the home
of the Acadian farmers and the famous village reminescent
of a variety of tradespeople. The work describes whole
communities dispersed and separated from the homeland in the
mid-1700s. Evangeline and Gabriel flee home and experience
the pain of separation despite the fact that Gabriel seems to
keep a step ahead during a major part of the story. The work
attests to the beauty and strength of a woman's devotion.
In many ways, our fate and destiny tend to be random events which are out of our immediate control. This work traces the
fate of important characters living in a state of uncontrolled
flux and uncertainty . Readers of the poem will discover
how the story unfolds and the difficult choices presented
at various stages of Longfellow's journey. The work is
written utilizing an advanced vocabulary typical of the
writers during this period .

Highly recommended
I heard about this book from my mom a few weeks ago after I went to see the movie Serendipity.I told her about the plot of the two people in love searching for one another and just missing every time.She said it reminded her of another story, Evangeline.Since i attend an engineering school I am always very eager to read books with real meaning behind them, given that all my textbooks focus on is wastewater treatment, biological processes, etc...So given that I wasn't really expecting too much but a relief from textbooks when I picked up this book.Little did I know it was soon to become one of my favorites.I was pleasantly surprised by the Christian influences behind the poem and found myself crying a lot more than I expected.I highly recommend this to anyone who has a great appreciation for well written, romantic poetry and literature. ... Read more

Product Description
Initially conceived by Longfellow after reading the works of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, "The Song of Hiawatha" is an epic poem based on the legends of the Ojibway Indians of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The beautiful descriptions of this part of the United States are intertwined with the story of the Native American Hiawatha. From his youth to his marriage, from his daily existence of gathering food to his participation in the traditions of his people, Longfellow weaves a tale of impressive scope in this lyric work. Ultimately, this poem tells the story of the American Indian, including his habitual life, fight for survival, and gradual disappearance at the arrival of white men. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Song of Hiawatha
I went to Camp Mudjekeewis and when my mother died (she also went to Camp Mudjekeewis) I tried to find the book "The Song of Hiawatha) because I wanted to find out how the camp picked that name.

I alway thought it was "Gentle West Wind".After reading the book, I find out the Mudjekeewis was Hiawatha's father.And he was called "West Wind."

I thought it was pretty funny as Camp Wedjekeewis was an all girls camp.

June McKenna Hevener ( I now live in Hingham, MA at Linden Ponds.

Perfect book for all ages
I purchased this book for my grandson so we could read it together before going to a regional presentation of the poem.He is 8 years old, and got so much more from the play because he had read the poem.The book was of good quality.

Surprisingly nice
I liked this piece quite a bit. Hiawatha was loosely based on a real Indian chief of the 1500's. Walt Disney has done this poem a great disservice by making it possibly one of his silliest characters ever. Longfellow had read a history of Hiawatha and then wrote a grand poem. It surprised me but this poem really is in the stream of Beowolf and Gilgamesh. This poem does not have the passion I found in Beowolf and Gilgamesh, but it reminds me of what it was like to live on this continent before the Europeans arrived, and long afterwards. The power of nature through its spiritual and apparent manifestations is key. In this poem all nature talks. Ben ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

CERTAINLY ONE TO READ WITH THE YOUNG READER
I cannot think of a better way to introduce the poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow than this small volume.The selection is excellent and of interest you the young reader.The commentary is quite relevant as are the pictures which accompany it.I find that often now, our young people go all the way through the early grades in school and many of them have never heard of Longfellow much less read his poetry.This was the sort of stuff my generation and the generation before it grew up on and cut our teeth on.I do not feel I am any worse for the wear.I am fearful that we are bringing up an entire generation (rightfully or wrong, although I feel it is the later) of young folks who will have no appreciation to this great art form and will miss a lot.This book helps.This entire series helps, as a matter of fact and I certainly recommend you add this one and the others to your library.Actually, it is rather fun reading these with the young folk and then talking about them.Not only do you get to enjoy the work your self and perhaps bring back some great memories, but you have the opportunity to interact with your child or student.It is actually rather surprising what some of the kids come up with.I read these to my grandchildren and to the kids in my classes at school.For the most part, when I really get to discussing the work with them, they enjoy it.NOTE:After reading the reviews above from School Library Journal and Kirkus review, I am not sure if they or I read the same work. I would personally recommend you rather ignore some of the negative comments.I will say though, that this is one you might want to read with your child or children though, as there are some rather archaic terms used, delightful, but archaic.Recommend this one highly. ... Read more

Product Description
A selection of Longfellow's poetry from the 19th century. Revealing differing tones, styles and themes, these works provide a picture of Longfellow's sense of himself, and his understanding of the true state of the times in which he lived. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The Hobo Philosopher
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Selected Poems

Book Review

By Richard Edward Noble

I decided to reacquaint myself with Henry Wadsworth Longfellow because of a remark I read in another book. It was commented in this other reading that Henry in his day was America's most read and beloved poet and eventually supported himself on his poetry.

I truly admire any poet who has been able to make a living writing poetry. I only know of a few: Robert Service, Rod Mckuen, Rudyard Kipling, possibly Ogden Nash, John Milton - most poets had a day job. They have traditionally been school teachers or college professors, ministers and preachers.

Walt Whitman is a typical sad story of a struggling poet - so too is Edgar Allen Poe. So when I read someone who actually made a living at that art, I am curious to say the least. All else said to the contrary they must have had something.

I sent for this nice little volume. The book itself is very nice with one of those little "strings" to mark the pages - like in a bible.

I've read the entire book aloud. I enjoy reading poetry aloud. I read my poetry aloud at bed time. My wife takes out her hearing aids and is snoring while I'm inflecting and projecting to my heart's content.
This is a wonderful collection with lots of old favorites ... Paul Revere's Ride, Song of Hiawatha, The Courtship of Miles Standish, The Village Blacksmith and The Wreck of the Hesperus. But since I never sat down before and read a whole volume of Longfellow there were many that I had never read or heard. The Children's Hour is famous but I had never read it before - also The Cross of Snow - two very beautiful poems.

The fact that Longfellow was so popular back in 1888 leads me to think that Americans, on the average, must have been much more intelligent than those mulling around us today. It is a complement to the population of that era that they chose to make this man comfortable in his old age by purchasing his lovely poetry with their hard earned pennies, nickels and dimes.

Longfellow was an historian. Much of his writing is historical. He is also clearly a classical poet - writing in the tradition of Dante, Milton, Edmund Spenser and the like. His poetry is excellent. It sings. Get this volume and read it out loud to yourself (or to someone else, for that matter. It is wonderful. You don't have to understand every line - just listen to it.

He also seemed to be a very nice man - one whose life I intend to explore more deeply.

Books written by Richard Noble - The Hobo Philosopher:
"Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A.."
"A Summer with Charlie" Salisbury Beach, Lawrence YMCA
"A Little Something: Poetry and Prose
"Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother" Novel - Lawrence, Ma.
"The Eastpointer" Selections from award winning column.
"Noble Notes on Famous Folks" Humor - satire - facts.
"America on Strike" American Labor - History
"A Baker's Dozen" Short Stories

Romantic gem for the untainted
Longfellow appears to be one of those poets afflicted with a severe case of schoolcurriculumnitis. My regrets!

You know thedisease - in the upper echelons of high school you are fed a safe selection of poems and novellas (actual novels of course being too unwieldy for the teacher) and then asked to analyse the living daylights outta 'em. Needless to say you are put off these cursed authors for life.

Coming from a different language, no one ever tried to poison the Longfellow well for me so I find this late-romantic poetry quite enjoyable. 'Evangeline' was a bit too saccharine but 'The Courtship of Miles Standish' was moving, as was 'John Endicott'.

Annoying as always are my friends over at Penguin who, after all these years, still manage to put out a book that looks aged before even being read. After perusing it it is it ripe for a stoop sale. I know it's cheap but can't you do better? Pretty please?

Longfellow
I wanted a book of Longfellow poems and this is the best compact miscellany on the market

Where have you gone, Mr. Longfellow?
Longellow is the poet of the American public school. 'Evangeline' 'The Courtship of Miles Standish' 'Paul Revere's Ride' ' The Village Blacksmith' ' 'A Psalm of life' and others. His reputation in the nineteenth century was great and overwhelming. Yet his reputation in the realm of poetry today is not with those artists of the canon, Tennyson and Browning in England, and Whitman and Dickinson in the United States. Perhaps it isbecause his poems are taken to be not inventive enough linguistically.Perhaps it is because the very thing many have praised him for his musicality seems today to be less than the irregular music of a Hopkins or Dylan Thomas.
In any case in Longfellow one will find sound solid lines, a certain moral stance , a kind of American integrity. For someone like myself reading Longfellow is a nostalgic trip and a new perspective on what I read so long ago. He has much to give even if it is not quite at the highest poetic level.

you want it you got it
I love this book it is something that men and women would enjoy. I have tons of information on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow because our house is a remake of his he lived from 1807-1882. If I were you I would buy it I amthe biggest fan of his I have every single book of poems,songs,and more onhim in paperback and hardcover. Buyit! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

GETS BETTER EVERY YEAR!
I sort of hate to intrude upon our ultra sophisticated world and shake this work in people's faces, but I was setting here reading some of the poems of Longfellow and had an attack of nostalgia and then had a need to write a review on the old book, so here I am.It was published in 1947, and while it is not as old as I am, it is in fact as about beat up as I am and, like me, sort of on its last leg; lots of scars and abuse.

In the school I attended, from first grade through high school, we were all required to memorize poetry and recite it. There were a number of works required each and every year.Some of these pieces were quite long and involved.I do not think that most schools require this any more and I personally feel it is a shame.Poetry was, unlike today, a link with our past and common ground from one generation to the next.I can remember four generations of our family setting at the table and while eating, talking of this and that.If the name Hiawatha or Evangeline or King Olaf came up, everyone at the table knew who or what was being referred to.We all had that common bond and as a matter of fact, most at that table, from the youngest to the oldest, could recite many of the poems mentioned.In school I was sort of an expert on Longfellow as I would always try to pick one of his works to memorize and recite.I could remember them easier than some of the other poets for some reason and was the type of kid who spent more time trying to get out of work than actually working.

This volume includes 49 of Longfellow's poems, including some of my favorites; the Wreck of the Hesperus, Footsteps of Angels, The Song of Hiawatha, The Children's Hour, Paul Revere's Ride, The Falcon of Ser Federigo, The Saga of King Olaf and My Lost Youth.(While included, I was never overly fond of The Courtship of Miles Standish, but hey, that is purely personal taste).

I keep a complete printed copy of The Song of Hiawatha in my "school bag" which I take each day when I substitute teach at the local schools.I use this poem as a "cooler."By that I mean, when I have a class that is difficult to control, from first grade through high school, I have the kids set silently and I read this poem to them.I have a good reading voice, deep and melodic (pats self on back), and can read this one well.At first there will be the rolling of eyes and then complete silence.I can read for at least an hour and this poem has an almost hypnotic effect on the kids.They don't sleep, I won't let them, but they do quite down and remain silent and calm throughout the entire reading.I will let them get to college, like I did, before someone tells them what an overly idealistic poem this is.I am not in this world to pop bubbles.

Anyway, this is a great collection.If you have not read Longfellow for years and years, shame on you.Go to the library and find a collection of his work.If you have not read him yet, do the same thing as you are missing out on a treat!

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks
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Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
The famous poem with a new historical introduction. First published in 1847, Evangeline is a classic of romantic literature that tells the epic story of a young Acadian couple who are separated during the tragic Acadian expulsion of 1755. ... Read more

Product Description
The classic American poem The Song of Hiawatha is developed into a tale covering the childhood of Hiawatha and telling the story of his early years, when he first learned the Native American way of life from his grandmother. Reprint. AB. SLJ. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Celebrates Native American culture and the beauty of nature...
This is a nice book on so many levels. It features beautiful artwork and the rythmic poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; and tells the story of Hiawatha's childhood with his wise grandmother Nokomis and all the plants and animals of the forest. It's a bedtime favorite of my little boy and me. It's also a good way to spark interest in the Native American culture and the beauty of nature.

Nice Presentation of Classic Poem
"Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, with drawings by Susan Jeffers brings us a great poem with nice pictures.

"By the shores of Gitche Gumee," begins Longfellow's famous poem, "Song of Hiawatha."

Presented here, stanza-by-stanza, we read the delicious language of Hiawatha's story, from birth to teenage years. It is not the legend of an American Indian that makes it so inviting, or even Longfellow's excellent use of simple English. It is the story of a young boy who happens to be an American Indian. Any boy or girl, especially those growing up where winter nights are frosty, where pine trees whisper, and owls and owlets hoot and laugh, will enjoy the prosaic poem.

It is like reading a walk through the woods.

Longfellow's work is not the only strength on this edition. Susan Jeffers' drawings bring in artistic realism.

Ultimately, the poem will be the lasting value, but it is available anywhere. It is public domain. It is the mix of art and poetry.

I fully recommend "Hiawatha" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Always a joy!To be savored over and over!
Hiawatha is a beautiful, richly detailed poem of Native Americans before the treahery of the white man overwhelmed their way of life. Susan Jeffers took each verse and created a breathtaking, artist's view of the youngHiawatha. Each verse becomes vibrantly alivewith her delicaterendiions."By the shores of ..." and Nokomis fill the readerssouls with new images because of the renderings made by the talented SusanJeffers.

A captivating, emotional charge.Beautiful!
Susan Jeffers' drawings exemplify the clarity and imagination of Longfellow's epic poem to a tee. A must have for every child's library, hopefully to be read over and over again.

A childhood classic comes alive
I have this poem memorized because my father recited it to me so many times as a child. This illustrated version has beautiful pictures that capture the fact that this is the story of child and embody the lyric quality of Longfellows poem. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more