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Historical Info: |
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John GREENLEAF WHITTIER was born in 1807 in Massachusetts, grew up on a farm with Quaker influences, received little formal schooling, but steeped himself in literary and historical traditions. He was particularly inspired by the Scottish poet, Robert Burns. He began writing at an early age, and held a number of editorial assignments. He was editor of the New England Weekly Review, The American Manufacturer, and the Pennsylvania Free man, all before he was thirty-five. At a later time, he was corresponding editor of the National Era, and was one of the founders of the Atlantic Monthly. Following 1833, the next thirty years of Whittier's life was devoted to the cause of abolition, as poet, editor and lobbyist. He produced some of his finest literary work during those years in the anti-slavery fight. On the political front, as well, he was opposed to the Mexican War, and penned "Ichabod" as a scornful attack on Daniel Webster. Whittier supported Charles Sumner during the abolitionist years, and was one of those who suggested the formation of the Republican party. Whittier's literary production increased during the sixties and later, with Home Ballads, Snow-Bound, which is considered his masterpiece, Among the Hills, Miriam and Other Poems, The Vision of Echard, and At Sundown. The best of his early work can be found in Lays of My Home and Other Poems, Songs of Labor, and The Panorama and Other Poems. A tolerant and sympathetic man with a pronounced
sense of humor, he was considered a radical only toward the slavery
question, being quite conservative in economic matters. He was
a believer in thrift and the golden rule. Greatly admired during
his lifetime, perhaps because of his forthright stand on abolition,
his literary reputation has suffered since in comparison with
some of his New England contemporaries. |
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