Biography George Edward Woodberry

1 biography

1.1 education
1.2 professorship
1.3 works
1.4 @ home

biography
education

woodberry born in beverly, massachusetts, on may 12, 1855. woodberrys or woodburys—various spellings of name exist—immigrated and, since settlement took root on north shore, have been native beverly , neighboring seaport towns. receiving preparation @ phillips exeter academy, entered harvard college in 1872. owing, however, ill health, unable continue class. re-entered in 1875 , graduated in 1877. distinguished member governor of massachusetts. woodberry took highest final honors in philosophy, , awarded oration @ commencement. essay, on relation of pallas athene athens , owes preservation in permanent form fact forbidden deliver it, because of disapproval of substance committee of faculty in charge. college friends asked consent print him small edition, copies of rare. , college poems, of there selection in ‘’verses harvard advocate’’ (1876), first-fruits.

professorship

in 1877-78 acting professor of english , history in university of nebraska. in 1878 went new york assistant editor on nation, , in following year, moved cambridge, continued editorial work, besides contributing atlantic monthly , harper s. in 1880 recalled nebraska, 2 years held english professorship; @ end of time, several associates in faculty, dismissed chair, result of 1 of contests usual in life of western colleges.

works

in fall of 1882, history of wood-engraving (harpers) appeared, written, not in technical manner, in pleasing, cultivated sympathy subject study in art. next 2 years quietly busily spent in beverly. north shore watch: threnody, first printed in 1883 in private edition of 2 hundred copies. 1 year later published edgar allan poe, 1 of marked successes of american men of letters series , , work author perhaps known. became @ once recognized authority on poe, , did true service american literature in dispelling myths of popular tradition.

woodberry went italy in 1885, returned, apparently disheartened journey, in saw in foreign conditions of life distress , disturb him. after experience, came country. first appeared in limited separate impression; in atlantic monthly , in 1888, professor john k. paine, using poem libretto, composed cantata, song of praise, performed @ festival @ cincinnati in year. woodberry again visited italy in winter of 1888-89, time in happier mood. during 1890, north shore watch, , other poems, , studies in letters , life published.

for twelve years, woodberry constant writer literary portion of nation. also, during aldrich s editorship, anonymously, , reason able, more forcibly, asser critical strength in atlantic monthly. contributed 1 paper fortnightly review in 1882, , during 1888 wrote regularly, upon literary topics, boston post. contributed entry on american literature 11th edition of encyclopædia britannica (1910) under initials g.e.w. .

in 1891–1904 professor of comparative literature @ columbia university. elected american academy of arts , letters. wrote number of books well. after death in 1930, posthumously awarded 1 of first 3 frost medals lifetime achievement in poetry poetry society of america. woodberry poetry room @ harvard university named in honor.

at home

his summers spent in beverly, winters in boston, lived quietly among few friends. him younger men go easily, sure remembers days of own youth , loves theirs better it.

“the critical reach of mr. woodberry s mind shown in soundness , judgment of study of poe, in essay on keats, in remarkable paper on byron centenary, , in sober admiration shelley shot through has written. in threnody, in sonnets, , single poems victor s bird, learn of strength , sweetness. has been said of poetry there no love in it, , yet work of fullest expression, agathon , wholly of love. spirit of beauty, , zeal wisely tempered democracy—these on every page. in prose seems deliver burden of feels ought say, whether in softness or in firmness; in verses 1 may discover poet cherishes. takes nobody storm; kingdom of heaven, unlike many of craft, not come violence, either in personal appearance , manners or in structure , form of thought.”