Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Expresses Admiration and Even Love for Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The author and poet Oliver Wendell Holmes was part of Boston's literary elite. Surrounded by friends such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and James Russell Lowell, Holmes made an indelible imprint on the literary world of the 19th century. The volume of important statesmen, wealthy patrons, inspired artists, great literary figures, and profound thinkers, caused many to call Boston in this age the American Athens.

Longfellow died in 1882. A professor in the Midwest, John Babsone Lane Soule, who was also a publisher, minister, and poet, wrote a memorial address for him, which was printed as a pamphlet. A copy of this he sent to Holmes, who responded by expressing admiration and even love for Longfellow.

Autograph letter signed, Beverly Farms, Massachusetts, October 5, 1885, to Prof. Soule. “The pressure of a numerous correspondence and other engagements must be my excuse for my delay sir in acknowledging your polite attention in sending me your memorial address in Longfellow. Please accept my thanks for your sincere and generous tribute to the memory of one whom we all agreed in admiring and loving.” The printed memorial address is included.

This letter shows the emotion that these literary greats felt for each other. We’ve never before seen it expressed in this way.