The poem john browns body brought benet instant popularity. A prolific poet, novelist, and writer of short stories, he is best known as the 1929 pulitzer prizewinning author of the epic civil war poem john browns body and the short story the devil and daniel webster. In 1928, stephen vincent benet published john browns body, 15,000 lines of blank verse exulting the spirit of the american people as seen through the prism of its defining historical moment, the civil war. Stephen vincent benet 18981943 was awarded the pulitzer prize in 1929 for john brown s body. John browns body by benet, stephen vincent and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In 1953 charles laughton turned the poem into a play. Like homer and virgil before him, benet used poetry to give moral significance to a time of seminal change and profound tragedy. John browns body 1928 is an epic american poem written by stephen vincent benet. Octavo, contemporary full blue polished calf, giltdecorated spine, raised bands, red morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. John browns body stephen vincent benet and civil war. A narrative poem that was the winner of the 1929 pulitzer prize for poetry. A book of americans 1933, poems written with his wife, the former rosemary.
A book of great energy and sweep, it swings into view the entire course of that terrible and decisive war, lighting up the lives of soldiers, leaders, and civilians, north and south, amidst the conflict. Stephen vincent benet, born july 22, 1898, bethlehem, pennsylvania. When stephen vincent benet finished john brown s body in 1928 and the critics awaited its issue, the south was most anxious and skeptical that they would be portrayed honestly. One of the most widely read poems of our time, john brown s body is stephen vincent benet s masterful retelling of the civil war.
Benet, chronicling the history of the american civil war, demonstrates why the epic still deserves our attention. Its title references the radical abolitionist john brown, who raided harpers ferry in. Its title references the radical abolitionist john brown, who raided the federal armory at harpers ferry in virginia in october 1859. Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and videos from thousands of public libraries worldwide. Very good with a cocked spine, light soiling on the boards, and worn corners and spine ends. Near fine in a good only dustwrapper, missing some small pieces on the spine and. Generations of readers have found the book a compelling and.
He is best known for his booklength narrative poem of the american civil war john brown s body 1928, for which he received the pulitzer prize for poetry, and for the short stories the devil and daniel webster 1936 and by the waters of babylon 1937. Publication date 1928 topics brown, john, 18001859 publisher. John browns body stephen vincent benet and civil war memory. One of the most widely read poems of our time, john browns body is stephen vincent benet s masterful retelling of the civil war. July 22, 1898 march, 1943 was an american poet, short story writer, and novelist. He was a rarity among 20thcentury authors, a poet whose books sold in the tens of thousands and who was honored in the poetry workshops and lecture. John browns body, epic poem in eight sections about the american civil war by stephen vincent benet, published in 1928 and subsequently.
The scrupulously researched narrative begins just before john browns raid on harpers ferry and ends after the assassination of pres. One of the most widely read poems of our time, john browns body is stephen vincent benets masterful retelling of the civil war. Stephen vincent bent 18981943 was born in bethlehem, pennsylvania. Benet s poem covers the history of the american civil war.
Pulitzer prizewinning poet stephen vincent benet was born in bethlehem in 1898. John browns body part 1 audio only columbia masterworks. John browns body epic poem simple english wikipedia. John browns body is a poem about civil war in america. More importantly, this last campaign of john browns body provides a compelling case study of how individuals, ideology, and institutional powerand its limitsintersect in the development of curricula and the formation of localized literary canons. This narrative history of the civil war in rhyme and blank verse told from the point of view of ordinary people of both the north and the south is a remarkable epic of the united states.
More information about this seller contact this seller 3. What it really is is a verse history of the civil war by stephen vincent benet and his poetry reaches the tops of greatness at times. Light blue cloth over boards show light spotting, light rubbing at edgescorners, gilt title block on front, chip on spine. In this work historical and fictional persons are presented together.
By the time american poet stephen vincent benet wrote john browns body in the 1920s, the literary world had long since passed the form by. A book of great energy and sweep, it swings into view the entire course of that terrible and decisive war, lighting up the lives of soldiers. John browns body by stephen vincent benet, paperback. Stephen vincent benet, the author of john browns body and one of the most splendid human creatures of these tragic times, was born in bethlehem. The academy of american poets is the largest membershipbased nonprofit organization fostering an appreciation for contemporary poetry and supporting american poets.
John browns body stephen vincent benet bauman rare books. Find on facebook follow on twitter follow on instagram. They were and stephen benet s masterpiece is americas greatest epic poem and a most unappreciated work of literature. John browns body by stephen vincent benet goodreads. Related questions and answers for characters in john browns body.
John browns body by stephen vincent benet the heritage etsy. John browns body there were three stout pillars that held up all by. Among his many other works is the devil and daniel webster. Army of the potomac, advancing army, alloy of a dozen disparate, alien states, cityboy, farmhand, bountyman, first volunteer, old regular, drafted recruit, paid substitute, men who fought through the war from first bull. John brown himself is hanged barely a third of the way through the book, he is. His most famous work is the long poem john browns body, for which he received the pulitzer prize in 1929. Stephen vincent benet pennsylvania center for the book. When benet published john browns body in 1928, the poem seemed all but. John browns body by stephen vincent benet, published in 1928, remains a. He was able to complete john browns body 1928, a book length cyclorama about the american civil war. What are the 3 literary devices in invocation from john browns body. In his prose and poetry he often retold american history, folktales, and legends. John browns body there were three stout pillars that.