Authors and Friends

A warm, lyrical portrait brings the 19th‑century poet to life through the simple pleasures he cherished—like the scent of lilac buds in Cambridge—while revealing the quiet brilliance that made him a beloved figure of his age. The narrative follows his early years as a diligent scholar, his uncanny ability to slip effortlessly into foreign tongues, and the gentle hospitality that earned him the admiration of both peers and strangers.

Interwoven with excerpts from correspondence, the book offers intimate glimpses of Longfellow’s friendships with fellow writers such as Hawthorne and the ever‑supportive Mr. Fields. Their letters reveal playful debates over poems, shared sorrows, and the camaraderie of two “sad authors” planning a modest dinner. Through these exchanges, listeners hear the poet’s humor, humility, and the tender bonds that shaped his creative world, all without venturing beyond the formative moments of his remarkable life.