Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen Collection 1867-1895

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen Collection, Accession 6903, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Creator:
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen Collection, Accession 6903, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

[Sonnets on "Evolution"; begins "I am the child of earth & air & sea. . ."]

[Three sonnets beginning, "If I should lose thee, Darling. . ."; "I saw thee drifting. . ."; and "I wonder oft why God. . ."]

[Refuses to part with autograph letters of Ivan Tourguenettat Jackson's request; promises to ask Tourguenett to write a few lines for her which he will forward to her.]

[Acknowledges her 2 letters; says he is overburdened with literary and professional work and apologizes for not answering sooner; mentions his failure to meet her in New York City; expects to go to Europefor a year's stay; talks at length about evolution, a subject which haunts him; looks at evolution theory in its Goetheaspect; says he has written a series of "scientific sonnets!" soon to be published, to clear his mind of the subject of evolution; looks forward to a long literary talk with her; notes she is working on a story or a book.]

[Discusses Norwegian painter Hammerstead who plans to settle in [ New York]; asks for Drake's help in bringing Hammerstead's paintings before the public.]

[Encloses short poem which he feels good about; discusses a story he is working on.]

[Responds to Bunt's request for him to recall an important incident in his life by saying he has nothing to offer other than his birth, which was to long ago for him to remember it.]

[Agrees to publish a volume of juvenile stories, Boyhood in Norway, 1892, for Boyesen in the autumn of the following year; discusses term of publication.]

[Sends the requested ballad intended for recitation, "The [ ] of A Song"; hopes it will suit him but promises not to be offended if it does not.]

[Says he will gladly publish Boyesen's Essays on German Literature, 1892; says there will be a market for the book; offers a 10 percent; royalty; mentions juvenile stories.]

[Sends postage stamps for the return of the manuscript of his ballad; says he will have no further communication with McClure; marvels at his "cheek."]

[Encloses a report on Essays on German Literatureand a royalty cheque; says Scribner's is willing to publish a companion volume, Essays on Scandinavian Literature, 1895, provided that certain conditions are met.]

[Asks for a November 1884 copy of The Dial, in which a story of his on Hans Christian Andersonappears; intends include the story in Essays on Scandinavian Literature; congratulates Browne on the appearance and literary excellence of The Dial. ]

[States that he has written an article, not in the form of a book review, on Henrik Ibsen's play "Love's Comedy,"which has not yet been translated into English; offers his article to The Dialfor $20, though he could get twice that amount, because he values The Dial; mentions Hans Christian Andersonstory, his busy lecture schedule.]

[Decides to interpret his novel to write article on William Dean Howellsat once; requests prompt payment; asks to see proof before article goes to print; says he could easily sell the article to Cosmopolitan, should McClure not be pleased with it.]

[Sends for approval if article on Henrik Ibsen, "The Wild Duck," which will be included in Essays On Scandinavian Literature; expects $20 for it.]

[Assures him that there is no particular hurry to publish "The Wild Duck" as Scribner'swill not put out Essays On Scandinavian Literaturebefore 1895.]

[Asks him to watch out for an article of his literary criticism which will appear in The Forum. ]

[Acknowledges $20; speaks highly of and recommends writers [James] Brander Matthews, George Edward Woodberry, and William Hamilton Gibsonwhom he likens to John Burroughs; says that George Parsons Lathropis interesting only to the select since he became Catholic.]

[Says Browne's letter reached him at Columbiavia Genevaand Chicago; gives his impression of "The Fair," Columbia Exposition 1893in Chicago; sums it up as the most magnificent the world has to offer; is especially taken with the wonder of electrical illumination.]

[Asks for the proof of "The Wild Duck" to be sent to Long Island, if Browne decides to publish it.]

[Requests a copy of article on Hans Christian Anderson, published in The DialNovember 1884; intends to include it in Essays on Scandinavian Literature, to be published by Scribner 's; names other essays he will include in the volume.]

[Says he has found his own copy of the story on Hans Christian Anderson. ]

[Says he has not published the lectures Rhoads refers to and that he does not intend to do so for a few years; says the substance of the lectures, with the exception of the lecture on Algernon Charles Swinburne, is in Literary and Social Silhouettes1894.]

[Discusses the quality of Sunday school for children at St. George's; gives reasons for sending her son to St. Barthlomus; pleads with him to persuade her husband to remain a member of St. George, the church they were both confirmed in; expresses thoughts on Robert Browning. ]

[Receipt for the sum of $105.50.]

Acquisition information:
Deposit 1962 Nov 14
Processing information:

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Physical location:
Physical description:
26 items