Historical Papers

John Greenleaf WhittierProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.7

Word count: 172K words
Chapters: 18

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Historical Papers by John Greenleaf WhittierAuthor: Whittier, John Greenleaf, 1807-1892,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Dec 1, 2005

Editor's review

Historical Papers gathers several essays in which Whittier writes about historical figures, events, and local memory, reflecting a poet and social activist's enduring attention to the past. These are not academic works of historiography but historical narratives shaped by personal perspective and moral concern, often entering through a particular figure, scene, or commemorative occasion to reflect how nineteenth-century America imagined and constructed its own history. Their strength lies in clear, fluent prose and genuine feeling, making documentary material readable; their limitation lies in the selection of material and viewpoints being shaped by the era and the author's stance, requiring readers to remain discerning. The book suits readers seeking an introduction to Whittier's prose and to nineteenth-century American historical writing, and readers interested in local history and commemorative culture may browse it at leisure. It is best read as historical essays rather than authoritative reference; key facts should be checked against other sources.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in nineteenth-century American historical writing
General readers who enjoy historical essays and commemorative prose
Researchers and enthusiasts studying Whittier's prose
Readers concerned with local history and public memory

Not a good fit for

Professional researchers seeking rigorous historical argumentation and documentary sources
Readers hoping for a systematic general history or textbook-style narrative
Readers impatient with nineteenth-century English prose

Reading tips

Read by theme rather than in order, starting with pieces on historical figures or events you already know.
Mark the author's evaluative statements as you read, noting his stance and the limitations of his era.
Check key facts against modern historical scholarship rather than relying on this book alone.
Read alongside other nineteenth-century American historical essays to compare narrative styles.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable to cite as historical material?

It is not advisable to cite it directly as authoritative historical material. It is a collection of historical essays shaped by personal perspective and the standpoint of its era, with evaluation and feeling interwoven into the narrative; before citing, check modern historical scholarship. It is better used as material for literary and intellectual history.

How does it relate to the author's poetry?

This book is Whittier's prose, sharing with his poetry a concern for history, morality, and social reform, but in a different genre. Readers familiar with his poetry can use it to observe how the same author selects material and adjusts his tone in prose.

Is the original English difficult to read?

It is somewhat difficult. Nineteenth-century prose has long sentences, and historical names and events are dense, with no explanatory notes. Use an electronic dictionary and background searches, and start with shorter pieces on familiar topics to gradually adjust to the style.

Comments

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About the author

John Greenleaf Whittier Author · American · 1807–1892

John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892) was an American poet and abolitionist, a Quaker, and one of the nineteenth-century "Fireside Poets," born in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He devoted himself early to the anti-slavery cause, edited several abolitionist newspapers, and gave voice to the movement in verse collected in volumes such as the Anti-Slavery Poems. His poetry ranges widely: the narrative poem Snow-Bound depicts New England country life and family memory in plain, homely language, while other works include nature poems, subjective and reminiscent pieces, religious poems, and legendary narrative poems such as The Tent on the Beach. His writing is simple and warm in feeling, marked by strong local color and moral concern. The library holds 44 of his works. Public information is limited, so this note gives only the main points of his life and writing.