William Cullen Bryant

William Cullen Bryant

One specific article in this specific issue of Harper’s Monthly is a detailed article about a poet, William Cullen Bryant and his work. William Bryant was a born in a beautiful part of Western MA and often wrote his poetry about the beautiful nature out in Massachusetts. This specific article and item are dedicated towards those who have read Bryant’s work on nature. Since there is not a lot of nature in New York City, the readers of Bryant’s work probably used his writing to feel connected to beauty that lies outside the city limits. His writings on nature are so masterful that, “No one can ever be tempted to accuse him of obtaining his knowledge of nature at second hand”. One item in the article that is very interesting is the photo of his current home on Long Island. The photo is supposed to be a black and white sketch, but in the magazine issue there is a shade of green and orange surrounding the house. The picture shows his house in Roslyn, New York, which is located right next to the city. Yet the photo has a very calming aspect to its appearance, there is not a lot of commotion that you would assume with New York City in the photo. The most commotion in the photo comes from the small group of people in front of the house. This item is very interesting in the aspect of how a writer on Long Island, who was born in Massachusetts, can write about the beauty of nature that somehow grasps New Yorkers into being infatuated with his work.

Harper's Monthly Magazine

No author listed. “William Cullen Bryant.” Harper’s Monthly Magazine. 4 April 1851. Harper’s Volume 4 1851-1852. Page 581

September 22, 2015

John Nyilis

1851-1852