Poems on Slavery

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)

This is a short volume of abolitionist poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, first published in 1842. As Wikipedia notes, Longfellow himself was not entirely satisfied with his work: "However, as Longfellow himself wrote, the poems were 'so mild that even a Slaveholder might read them without losing his appetite for breakfast'. A critic for The Dial agreed, calling it 'the thinnest of all Mr. Longfellow's thin books; spirited and polished like its forerunners; but the topic would warrant a deeper tone'. The New England Anti-Slavery Association, however, was satisfied enough with the collection to reprint it for further distribution." Despite these shortcomings, however, this volume is of historical importance and will interest many listeners. - Summary by Carolin

Genre(s): Poetry

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 The Noble Horse, by Philip Massinger aniroo
00:00:59
Play 01 To William E. Channing aniroo
00:01:10
Play 02 The Slave's Dream garyleosmith
00:01:37
Play 03 The Good Part Joelee Pasztor
00:01:40
Play 04 The Slave in the Dismal Swamp Chris Pyle
00:01:33
Play 05 The Slave singing at Midnight Chris Pyle
00:01:18
Play 06 The Witnesses Nemo
00:02:02
Play 07 The Quadroon Girl Emma Charlotte
00:02:58
Play 08 The Warning garyleosmith
00:01:28