Stories of Romance

Allan Cunningham

1784–1842

A stonemason’s apprentice from Dumfriesshire who became a well-known Scottish poet, songwriter, and man of letters in London. His life joined working-class beginnings with a deep love of ballads, biography, and literary history.

Oliver Wendell Holmes

1809–1894

A doctor, essayist, and poet, he brought sharp wit and warm intelligence to 19th-century American literature. Best known for works like The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table and the poem "Old Ironsides," he moved easily between the worlds of medicine and letters.

Harriet Elizabeth Prescott Spofford

1835–1921

A pioneering American writer of Gothic fiction, poetry, and early detective stories, she built a career that lasted more than sixty years. Her work is known for its rich atmosphere, emotional intensity, and unusually bold women characters.

John Wilson

1785–1854

Best known as "Christopher North," this lively Scottish writer mixed criticism, fiction, and larger-than-life personality in a way that left a strong mark on 19th-century literary culture. He was also a longtime professor at the University of Edinburgh, bringing the same energy to teaching and public debate.