I grew up on "Hiawatha" and we read "Paul Revere" to the grandkids whenever they come as well as every July 4. I have loved the cadences of Longfellow all my life, yet haven't read a great deal of his other poetry. I love this one -- that same Longfellow sound, but there is a melancholy I'd not seen in the others I know. Thanks for introducing this one!
Overrated, then underrated, then having a revival, maybe. I've been intending to have my own private Longfellow revival for a while, because I'm pretty sure that a lot of his work, like this poem, is really worth (re)reading. I had an illustrated Song of Hiawatha as a child, probably just some selections, which I really liked. I have a feeling I would still enjoy it. Next time I read Dante (if I do) I'm going to try his translation, which based on a quick sample seems much better than I expected.
I grew up on "Hiawatha" and we read "Paul Revere" to the grandkids whenever they come as well as every July 4. I have loved the cadences of Longfellow all my life, yet haven't read a great deal of his other poetry. I love this one -- that same Longfellow sound, but there is a melancholy I'd not seen in the others I know. Thanks for introducing this one!
Overrated, then underrated, then having a revival, maybe. I've been intending to have my own private Longfellow revival for a while, because I'm pretty sure that a lot of his work, like this poem, is really worth (re)reading. I had an illustrated Song of Hiawatha as a child, probably just some selections, which I really liked. I have a feeling I would still enjoy it. Next time I read Dante (if I do) I'm going to try his translation, which based on a quick sample seems much better than I expected.