1848 · New York
by [ Smith, Elbert H.]
New York: Edward Kearney, 1848. viii,[9]-299pp. Decorated cloth, spine gilt extra. Lithographed frontis and title vignette. Endsheets slightly darkened, toe of spine frayed, a few spots to top and fore-edges, lower fore-tips a bit worn, otherwise a very good, uncommonly bright copy. Half morocco slipcase and chemise. First edition. The author, perhaps feeling his part-prose, part-verse work THE HISTORY OF BLACK HAWK (Milwaukee, 1846) not sufficient, elected, for reasons undoubtedly tied to commerce, to retread much of the same ground here completely in verse, resulting in a moderately popular contribution to that rather limp field -- American epic poetry. In its defense, in the June 1854 issue of PUTNAM'S MONTHLY (pp.639-648), Smith's poem was the subject of a stunningly laudatory (but unsigned) reevaluation that concluded thus: Smith will in ..." all probability achieve no work which is superior to Black Hawk. If we wished to draw any parallel at all it would be between Elbert H. Smith and Milton. Here too there is considerable dissimilarity which could be proved if we had time to collate and place in juxtaposition distinct passages from their works. If Milton is more sublime musical and sonorous, Elbert H. Smith is more ragged, varied and irregular. If Milton is more governed by fixed laws, Elbert H. Smith exhibits a more discursive freedom. If Milton has the advantage of a splendid knowledge and all the rich exhaustless treasury whence the poet draws for illustration, Elbert H. Smith is not without ambitious imagery. We are more raised and elevated by Milton, but we are more amused with Smith. We have no idea that such a man should be left to grope in obscurity, and lest posterity should not do him justice, we have taken the matter in hand to set forth his merits as one who has written what in many respects may be the most remarkable poem of the age." SABIN 82461. (Inventory #: WRCLIT63402)
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