Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from The North American Review, Vol. 58
Although we deem Mr. Griswold deserving of a little gen tle correction for his literary beneficence, we are not insen sible to his merits. The work before us must have demanded the labor of years. Those portions which are intrinsically the least valuable undoubtedly cost the editor the most toil, and afforded him the least gratification. To hunt out medi ocrity and feebleness, and append correct dates to their for gotten effusions, is ah exercise of philanthropy which is likely to be little appreciated and yet, in many instances, it was necessary, in order to give a fair reflection of the poet ical Spirit of the country and the time. In the editors Swan derings in some of the secluded lanes of letters, he has res cued from Oblivion many poems of considerable value. He has been compelled to search for most of his facts in places only accessible by great exertion and perseverance. Many of the poets from whom he has made selections have never published editions of their writings, and had never before been honored with biographies. He might easily have writ ten better poems than some which he must have expend ed much time and labor in obtaining. The vanities and jealousies Of his band of authors he was compelled to take into consideration, and to forbear giving them unnecessary offence. Among all the fierce enmities which a person may provoke by sincerely expressing his opinions, we know of none more dangerous than that which follows from inform ing a rhyming scribbler, that his fame Will not equal his am bition, or from omitting to notice him at all out of com miseration for his well-meaning stupidities. We think, therefore, that Mr. Griswold has succeeded as well in his book', as the nature of the case admitted that his patient research and general correctness of taste are worthy of praise that his difficulties and temptations would have ex tenuated far graver errors than he has committed, and that his volume well deserves the approbation it has received.
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