Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Born:
- February 27, 1807, Portland, Maine, USA
- Died:
- March 24, 1882, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Poet, Educator, Translator
Early Life and Education
- Attended Bowdoin College, graduating in 1825 alongside Nathaniel Hawthorne.
- Showed early promise as a writer, publishing poems while still a student.
- After graduation, spent three years studying languages in Europe to prepare for a professorship.
Career and Major Achievements
- Professor of Modern Languages at Bowdoin College (1829-1835).
- Smith Professor of French and Spanish Languages and Belles-Lettres at Harvard University (1837-1854).
- Achieved immense popularity and literary success during his lifetime.
- Traveled extensively throughout Europe, influencing his writing.
- His work became a staple of American literature and education.
- Many admire the wisdom contained in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow quotes.
Notable Works
- Voices of the Night (1839)
- Ballads and Other Poems (1841), which included "The Village Blacksmith" and "The Wreck of the Hesperus"
- Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie (1847)
- The Song of Hiawatha (1855)
- The Courtship of Miles Standish (1858)
- Tales of a Wayside Inn (1863), which included "Paul Revere's Ride"
- Translation of Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy (1867)
Legacy and Impact
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow remains one of America's most beloved and enduring poets. His accessible style and focus on American themes contributed significantly to the development of a national literary identity. His poems were often didactic and moralistic, reflecting the values of his time. Though his critical reputation has fluctuated, his impact on popular culture and American literature is undeniable.