The Function of the Poet, and Other Essays

This collection gathers the mature essays of a leading 19th‑century American voice, revealing a mind that found its strongest expression not in verse but in thoughtful criticism. Written between his mid‑thirties and late fifties, the papers display a calm, measured prose that balances scholarly rigor with an engaging wit, making each piece feel like a conversation with a well‑read friend.

Readers will encounter Lowell’s landmark argument on the poet’s societal role, a pioneering appraisal of Edgar Allan Poe that still rings fresh, and early endorsements of emerging writers such as William Dean Howells and Henry James. Scattered throughout are sharp yet good‑humored raps at the spiritualist fad of his day and a surprisingly modern insight into the psychology of artistic genius. The essays together form a vivid portrait of a critic whose judgment was both generous and exacting, offering a rewarding listen for anyone interested in the foundations of American literary thought.