The Golden Legend

6b Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Illustrated with woodcuts. London: David Bogue, 1854.

Notes

First published in 1851, The Golden Legend is a dramatic narrative poem by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, inspired by medieval European folklore, Christian tradition, and the German legend of Faust. Set in thirteenth-century Germany, the story follows Prince Henry of Hoheneck, a nobleman suffering from a mysterious illness who learns that his only hope of recovery lies in the willing sacrifice of an innocent young woman named Elsie. Blending romance, religious symbolism, supernatural elements, and moral philosophy, the poem explores themes of faith, temptation, redemption, and selfless love. Inspired in part by the medieval German poem Der arme Heinrich by Hartmann von Aue, Longfellow's work reflects the nineteenth-century Romantic fascination with medieval history and spirituality. Later incorporated into his ambitious trilogy Christus: A Mystery (1872), The Golden Legend remains a distinctive example of Longfellow's narrative poetry and his enduring interest in European literary traditions.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was one of the most celebrated American poets of the nineteenth century and a leading member of the literary group known as the Fireside Poets. Born in Portland, Maine, Longfellow studied at Bowdoin College before pursuing an academic career that included a professorship at Harvard University. Deeply influenced by European languages, folklore, and Romantic literature, he became renowned for his lyrical storytelling, accessible verse, and exploration of historical and moral themes. Among the first American poets to achieve widespread international recognition, his poetry was cherished in homes and classrooms throughout the English-speaking world, establishing him as a defining voice of nineteenth-century American literature.

Description 

Red leather binding with embossed designs over both boards. Five raised bands with gilt lettering in second compartment. Marbled lettering. Ownership bookplate paste down. Gilt edges. Fine condition.