The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [1409]
You say that your long poem has taught you a useful lesson “that you are unfit to write narrative — unless in a dramatic form”. It is not you that are unfit for the task — but the task for you — for any poet. Poetry must eschew narrative — except, as you say, dramatically. I mean to say that the true poetry — the highest poetry — must eschew it. The Iliad is not the highest. The connecting links of a narration — the frequent passages which have to serve the purpose of binding together the parts of the story, are necessarily prose, from their very explanatory nature. To color them — to gloss over their prosaic nature — (for this is the most which can be done) requires great skill. Thus Byron, who was no artist, is always driven, in his narrative, to fragmentary passages, eked out with asterisks. Moore succeeds better than any one. His “Alciphron” is wonderful in the force, grace, and nature of its purely narrative passages: — but pardon me for prosing.
I send you the paper with my life and portrait. The former is true in general — the latter particularly false. It does not convey the faintest idea of my person. No one of my family recognised it. But this is a point of little importance. You will see, upon the back of the biography, an announcement that I was to assume the editorship of the “Museum”. This was unauthorized. I never did edit it. The review of “Graham’s Magazine” was written by H. B. Hirst — a young poet of this city.
Who is to write your life for “Graham?” It is a pity that so many of these biographies were entrusted to M, Griswold. He certainly lacks independence, or judgment, or both.
I have tried in vain to get a copy of your “Years Life” in Philadelphia. If you have one, and could spare it, I would be much obliged.
Do write me again when you have leisure, and believe me,
Your most sincere friend,
Edgar A Poe
J. R. Lowell Esqre
James Russell Lowell to Edgar Allan Poe — about January 1, 1844 (or 1845)
Happy New Year! I have been waiting for my volume to be out before I wrote to you again, and as it comes out a month later than I expected the delay in my letter has been proportionate. I am afraid that the copies for sale will get to Philadelphia before yours but I was out of town when they were sent off an, came too late to send you one. I now send one by Harnden to be left at the office of Graham’s magazine which I trust, will reach you. I know that there will be some sentiments in the volume which you will dislike but I trust not enough to lesson your esteem for the author. It would be a great pleasure to me if you would review it in Graham. ( . . . .) I shall send you my first volume a soon as I can go into Boston to get it. It is rather a publication of my exercise in learning to write poetry, than a collection of poems.
James R. Lowell to Edgar Allan Poe — March 6, 1844
Elmwood, Cambridge, March 6, 1844.
My Dear Friend, — When I received your last letter I was very busily employed upon a job article on a subject in which I have no manner of interest. As I had nothing to say, it took me a great while to say it.
I made an expedition to Boston to learn what I could about our lectures there, & found that the lectures for the season are now over. I mean the Society lectures. There are different gentlemen employed diligently in lecturing upon “physical sciences” & “the lungs” &c. &c. admission ninepence, children halfprice, but all the lectures of a more literary class are over. I spoke to the secretary of the Boston Lyceum about the probability of your success if you came