Early American Poets is a beautiful anthology of the poetry that helped define the American literary tradition. Louis Untermeyer has curated a selection of works from the likes of Whitman, Longfellow, and Poe, as well as many lesser-known poets. This book provides a fascinating glimpse into the early days of American poetry, and is sure to delight poetry lovers of all ages. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

From colonial times, through the Revolution and for over the one hundred and fifty years that followed, the lyric voice of New England has been dominant in our national poetry. The hardy strain which has continued through our entire history has retained its character while reflecting sharply changing fashions and new interests. In the three centuries sine Anne Bradstreet wrote with Puritan severity and yet with elaborate fantasy, a long and distinguished line of poets from the New England States has maintained, while constantly altering, a rich national tradition. Their roster includes a wide diversity of lyricists, moralists, revolutionists, mystics, skeptics, transcendentalists, impressionists, imagists and pastoral poets. They represent as no other regional writers the conscience and the eloquence of America. This volume is a rich harvest of verse that grew from the soil of New England. Thirty-three writers offer more than 300 poems, and each poet is generously represented. As Mr. Untermeyer says in his Foreward, “The prime objective of this work is to balance the familiar with the little known, to add to the pleasure of recognition the delight of discovery."