Book II
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Parrington, Vernon Louis
For Philadelphia, see Ellis Paxson Oberholtzer, The Literary History of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, 1906). Also H. M. Ellis, “Joseph Dennie and His Circle” (University of Texas Bulletin). For the politics of New York, see Dixon Ryan Fox, The Decline of Aristocracy in the Politics of New York (New York, 1918).
I. Charles Brockden Brown: The Novels of Charles Brockden Brown ... with a Memoir (Boston, 1827; Philadelphia, 1857, 1887). Wieland; or the Transformation (New York, 1798; best recent edition in American Authors Series, New York, 1926). Arthur Mervyn; or, Memoirs of the Year 1793 (Philadelphia, 1799; Second Part, New York, 1800; numerous later editions).
No adequate life has been written. The best is by William Dunlap, The Life of Charles Brockden Brown (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1815). See John Erskine, Leading American Novelists (New York, 1910), and Annie R. Marble, in Heralds of American Literature (Chicago and London, 1907).
Robert Montgomery Bird: For a list of his plays, see A. H. Quinn, A History of the American Theatre (New York, 1923).
Calavar; or, the Knight of the Conquest: a Romance of Mexico (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1834; about ten later editions).—The Hawks of Hawks-Hollow. A Tradition of Pennsylvania (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1835; two London editions).—The Infidel; or, The Fall of Mexico (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1835; London, 1835).—Nick of the Woods, or, the Jibbenainosay. A Tale of Kentucky (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1837; upward of twenty later editions).
For his life, see Clement Foust, Life and Dramatic Works of Robert Montgomery Bird (1919).
II. James Kent: Commentaries on American Law (4 vols., New York, 1826–1830; many later editions).
For his life, see William Kent, Memoirs and Letters of James Kent (Boston, 1898).
Fitz-Greene Halleck: Poetical Works (New York and Philadelphia; eight editions between 1847 and 1859). Poetical Writings with Extracts from those of Joseph Rodman Drake (edited by J. G. Wilson, New York, 1869, 1885).
For a life, see J. G. Wilson, The Life and Letters of Fitz-Greene Halleck (New York, 1869). Also see W. C. Bryant, Some Notices on the Life and Writings of Fitz-Greene Halleck (New York, 1869).
III. Washington Irving: The standard edition of his works is in forty volumes, New York, 1887.
The standard life is by Pierre M. Irving, The Life and Letters of Washington Irving (4 vols., London, 1864; New York, 1879, 1883).
See also The Letters of Washington Irving to Henry Brevoort (edited by George S. Hellman, 2 vols., New York, 1915). A recent study is George S. Hellman, Washington Irving, Esq. (New York, 1925).
James Kirke Paulding: Works (15 vols., New York, 1834–1839; 4 vols., 1867–1868).—The Diverting History of John Bull and Brother Jonathan (New York, 1812).—Letters from the South (2 vols., New York, 1817).—The Backwoodsman. A Poem (Philadelphia, 1818).—Salmagundi, Second Series (2 vols., New York, 1820).—Koningsmarke, the Long Finne, A Story of the New World (New York, 1823; 2 vols., New York, 1834; three London editions, and a German).—Westward Ho! A Tale (2 vols., New York, 1832, 1845; three London editions, a French and a German).—The Dutchman’s Fireside. A Tale (2 vols., New York, 1831; latest edition, 1900).—The Puritan and his Daughter (New York, 1849, 1850; also London, 1849, two editions, and one German).
No adequate life has been written, but see W. I. Paulding, Literary Life of James K. Paulding (New York, 1867).
IV. James Fenimore Cooper: The editions of Cooper’s novels are numerous; as good as any is the one in thirty-two volumes (New York, 1895, 1896–97). Much of his controversial work and critical articles have not been reprinted. See Notions of the Americans; Picked up by a Travelling Bachelor (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1829). A Letter to His Countrymen (New York, 1834). The American Democrat; or Hints on the Social and Civic Relations of the United States (Cooperstown, 1838). The History of the Navy (2 vols., Philadelphia, 1839). Also his eight volumes of European travels.
No satisfactory life has been written. The best is by T. R. Lounsbury, James Fenimore Cooper (New York, 1883). See also Correspondence of James Fenimore-Cooper (edited by his grandson, James Fenimore Cooper, 2 vols., New Haven, 1922). W. C. Brownell, in American Prose Masters (New York, 1909). Carl Van Doren, in The American Novel (New York, 1921).
V. William Cullen Bryant: The standard edition is edited by Parke Godwin (6 vols., New York, 1883–1889: 1–2, Biography, 1883, 3–4, Poetical Works, 1883, 1901; 5–6, Prose Writings, 1884–1889). Much information on his work in journalism will be found in Allan Nevins, A Century of Journalism (New York, 1921).
Horace Greeley: His works have not been collected. See Hints towards Reform (New York, 1850). Recollections of a Busy Life (New York, 1868). Essays Designed to Elucidate the Science of Political Economy (Boston, 1870). The American Conflict (Hartford and Chicago, 1864–1866).
For his life, see James Parton, The Life of Horace Greeley (Boston, 1868). Charles Sotheran, Horace Greeley (New York, 1915). See also John R. Commons, “Horace Greeley and the Working-Class Origins of the Republican Party” (Political Science Quarterly, Vol. XXIV, pp. 468–488).
Herman Melville: The best edition is The Standard (16 vols., London, 1922–23). Also see Works (4 vols., edited by A. Stedman, New York, 1892, 1896; Boston, 1900, 1910). Convenient editions of Typee, Omoo, and Moby-Dick are plentiful.
The indispensable life is Raymond Weaver’s Herman Melville: Mariner and Mystic (New York, 1921), with bibliography. Also see John Freeman, Herman Melville (in English Men of Letters Series, New York, 1926).