HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 03/28/1864 - HFSID 145124

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow sends an autograph letter of regret that he is not able to comply with the request.
Autograph Letter Signed: "Henry W. Longfellow", 2¼p, 4½x7. Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1864 March 28. To "Dear Madam". In full: "I would give me great pleasure to comply with your request if it were possible, but I am afraid it is out of my power. I have received so many applications of the same nature, that I have been obliged, that I assure you, with extreme reluctance, to decline all. You must not, therefore, attribute it to any want of interest in your Fair, if I do not make your case an exception. If I did, I should find myself into a very false and disagreeable position with all the rest. I remain, Dear Madam, with best whishes for the success of your undertaking, Your Obt. Servt.." At the time of this letter, Longfellow was between the publication of his Tales of a Wayside Inn (1863) and his translation of Dante's The Divine Comedy (1865-1867). American poet and linguist Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) graduated at 18 from Bowdoin College so adept at languages that he studied European languages overseas for four years following his graduation in 1825. In 1829, he became the librarian and the Professor of Modern Languages at Bowdoin until 1835. He joined Harvard's language staff following a second European tour (1835-1836), during which he was particularly influenced by German Romanticism. While at Harvard (1836-1854), Longfellow published his first works, including the poetic volume, Voices in the Night (1839). He attained fame eight years later with his narrative poem, Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie (1847). After 1854, Longfellow devoted his time to writing, producing such works as the poetic masterpiece, The Song of Hiawatha (1855), and Tales of a Wayside Inn (1863), which contained his famous poem, "Paul Revere's Ride". Wide acclamation enabled Longfellow to be self- supporting, a rarity for a 19th century poet and writer. Lightly creased. Mounting remnants on verso of integral leaf show through to upper blank corners of signature page, which is nicked at upper right edge. Overall, fine condition.