On a cold November morning in 1861, Julia Ward Howe awoke in her room at Willard's Hotel in Washington, D.C., with verses forming in her mind. She had visited Union Army camps the previous day, witnessing thousands of soldiers preparing for battle while singing "John Brown's Body." Now, in the pre-dawn darkness, words came to her with unusual clarity and force. Rising quietly so as not to disturb her sleeping childre…
“The sword of murder is not the balance of justice. Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.”
Neighbourhood:
American Poets, Devotional Poets, Hymn Writers, Political Poets, Women Poets
Emotional landscape: Irony, Sorrow, Spirituality
Herman Melville stands as one of American literature's most enigmatic and profound figures, a writer whose genius went largely unrecognized during his lifetime but whose works have come to define the very essence of American literary ambition. Born on August 1, 1819, in New York City, and dying in relative obscurity on September 28, 1891, Melville's seventy-two years encompassed a life of remarkable adventure, creati…
“To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme.”
Neighbourhood:
American Poets, Death & Mortality, LGBTQ+ Poets, Love Poets, Nature Poets, Political Poets, Victorian Poets
Emotional landscape: Wonder, Fear, Spirituality
