The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Complete

Name: The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes — Complete
Author: Oliver Wendell Holmes

By Oliver Wendell Holmes

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American Literature Poetry

About This Book

A wide-ranging anthology of humorous, lyrical, and occasional verse that moves between brief lyrics, satirical parodies, civic and commemorative odes, and longer narrative and didactic pieces. Recurring preoccupations include wit and irony, everyday and communal life, memory and nostalgia, moral and aesthetic reflection, and playful responses to contemporary events, with a distinctive blend of conversational cadence and formal variety. Poems are arranged by period and subject—early pieces, later additions, medical-themed verse, and assorted songs and tributes—offering both light entertainments and more serious elegiac or contemplative works across varied meters and tones.

About the Author

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. was an American physician, poet, and essayist, known for his contributions to literature and his role in the development of American thought in the 19th century. He was a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time and is best remembered for his work "A Mortal Antipathy," which explores themes of love and social interaction through a unique narrative style. Holmes was also a key member of the Fireside Poets, a group that included notable contemporaries such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and James Russell Lowell. His essays, particularly those in "Medical Essays, 1842-1882," reflect his keen observations on society and culture, showcasing his wit and intellect.