Fitz-greene Halleck

Alnwick Castle, with Other Poems (Dodo Press) Fitz-greene Halleck

Fitz-Greene Halleck (1790-1867) was an American poet who was born and died at Guilford, Connecticut. His first literary works of note were written with Joseph Rodman Drake. They penned the anonymous Croaker Papers which were satires of New York Society. The Croakers were perhaps the first popular literary satire of New York, and New York society (then far from a world cultural centre) was overcome with excitement at being considered worthy of erudite derision. Halleck then penned Fanny, his longest poem, also a satire on the literature, fashions, and politics of the time, published anonymously in 1819. Drake had advised Halleck to pursue becoming a nationally-known poet and to sit on "Appalachia's brow" to take in the immense power of nature and use it to inspire his imagination. A medical student, Drake died of consumption at 25 and Halleck commemorated his friend's death with a mournful poem that is considered by many as his most heartfelt, beginning "Green be the turf above thee" (1820). In the mid to late 19th century, Halleck was regarded as one of America's leading poets, dubbed "the American Byron. "