Author: William Alfred JonesPublisher:
ISBN: 9781333031275
Category : Literary Collections
Languages : en
Pages : 278
Book Description
Excerpt from Characters and Criticisms, Vol. 2 Imitatlon is natural, or rather, we should say, was formerly pardonable, from our social and political condition. For to the end of the last century, or even the first quarter (perhaps) of the present, there were good English writers in the coun try, with no pretence to an American spirit, except in their political speculations. The grave writing of that period, and the lighter efforts as well, were conceived and modelled on English originals. The dependence of the colonies had not yet ceased: our independence was civil only. This was especially the case in New England from the fact of its early settlement by Englishmen. There the English race was kept pure, without the admission of foreign elements. This made New England the stronghold of the English feeling of the country. This kept her, for a long while, the most provincial and colonial part of the Union. This made Boston a literary town for English wares, and gave to it its peculiar character and attitude, in respect to English writers, who found their haven there, when as voyagers they arrived, all prepared for idolatry and man-worship. How different from New York, which is cosmopolitan, and truly a metropolis, the city of theof literateurs and blue-stockings. There can be no doubt of the incalculable moral value of England to us as a means of culture. Our past is hers, and let no man undervalue the sacred in uences of ancient times, when rivalries are for gotten, jealousies have disappeared, when the drama of life appears to us simple and complete, when evil has perished and good. Alone remains. The tree of American Literature will be found to have its roots in English soil. But we can only show ourselves capable of receiving those blessed lessons by having in ourselves the virtue to live an independent life. To him that hath shall be given. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."