An exceptional collection of printed, manuscript, and other material related to Fitz-Greene Halleck

HALLECK, Fitz-Greene

About this Item

Halleck (1790-1867) was one of the most popular American poets in the first half of the 19th century and the only American to be honored with a statue in Poet's Row in Central Park. Recent scholarship has contextualized Halleck as an early gay American poet, whose relationship with fellow poet and collaborator Joseph Rodman Drake formed the basis for Bayard Taylor's 1870 novel Joseph and his Friend cited by some as the first gay American novel. (See Hallock, The American Byron: Homosexuality and the Fall of Fitz-Greene Halleck, University of Wisconsin Press, 2000.) Born in Guilford, Connecticut, Halleck moved to New York in 1811, and in 1813 formed an intimate relationship with Drake. In 1819 the men became literary stars when they published "The Croakers," a series of poems satirizing prominent New Yorkers; Halleck followed this up in 1819 with Fanny, a poem satirizing New York's nouveaux riches which went through several life-time editions; Alnwick Castle and other poems appeared in 1827, featuring many of the poems on which his reputation rests; and Young America, a satire on American materialism, appeared in 1865, two years before Halleck's death. The present collection includes the Bradley Martin copy of the scarce first edition of Fanny; a copy of Alnwick Castle inscribed to Fanny Kemble, in addition to three other titles inscribed by Halleck; the publisher's copy of the manuscript of Young America; several autographed letters signed of Halleck, as well as received correspondence from Taylor, Bryant, Longfellow, Kemble, Samuel Ward, and others; volumes from Halleck's library; scarce Halleckiana, and more. "Halleck's importance is at once perceived . Before 'The Croakers' and 'Fanny,' there was no American verse that was not either pompously solemn or coarsely farcical: hence this new fountain, willfully casting forth its pure sparkling, capricious jets of song, was welcomer to the public than poetry can ever be again . It must be remembered that Halleck was first read by a generation which had never before been refreshed by sentiment and humor and cleverness of allusion. The light abandon of his stanzas was as new as their racy local flavor." (Bayard Taylor in the North American review vol 115, Boston, 1877, pp 60ff). Please inquire for a full listing of the material in the collection. Seller Inventory # 101058

Bibliographic Details

Title: An exceptional collection of printed, ...

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included