Paul Hamilton Hayne Collection 1872-1875

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:

Paul Hamilton Hayne Collection, Accession 6495-a, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Creator:
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Paul Hamilton Hayne Collection, Accession 6495-a, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

[Feels drawn to Spencer, who is a compatriot and literary brother of the South; says he has acquainted himself with Spencer's work through his essays and informal criticisms in literary magazines, particularly The Southern Magazine; says he was impressed by " Men Whose Hair Parts in the Middle"; remarks on [Elizabeth Barrett] Browning's poem " Aurora Leigh. "]

[Says he found his recent letters thought-provoking and pithy; comments on violets and how flowers affected the temperaments of Oliver Wendell Holmesand John Keats; compliments him on his critical and intellectual abilities; discusses his life at Copse Hill; feels he has benefited greatly from his withdrawal from society; comments on his daily observation of nature; thanks Spencer for criticism of his work; considers Southern Magazinethe only "trustworthy" critical magazine; feel The Atlanticand The New York Nationare imperfect; responds in detail to Spencer's evaluation of his poems, including " Daphles: An Argative Story, " " Renewed, " " The Wife of Brittany, " " Krishna and his Three Handmaidens, " " Under the Pine (To the Memory of Henry Timrod), " and " The Dream of the South Winds, " " The Bonny Brown Hand, " and " Fire Picture"; discusses the creation of " The Wife of Brittany" which involved a modernization of Chaucer mixed with the influence of Dryden and Keats.]

[Says the violets he sent to Spencer have been a great success; talks about the strange spiritual delight he gets from this flower; remarks how different temperaments are affected by certain plants, Oliver Wendell Holmesby the box-tree, Keats by jissamine; quotes part of a Keats poem; Says he is happy to have found a friend to whom he can turn; says he is very alone; praises Spencer's work at length and in detail; responds to Spencer's critical evaluation, upon his request, of his poems; says The Southern Magazineis the only trustworthy one; thinks little of The Atlantic Monthlyand The Nation; expresses gratitude to William Hand Brownefor introducing him.]

[Thanks him for criticism of his poems in Legends and Lyrics; finds the criticism stimulating; wishes him to become his "Father Confessor"; disagrees with editor from Atlantic Monthlyin regard to the poem; feels some of his own poetry mirrors Dryden, Marlowe, Keats, and Morris; gives criticism of Spencer's " A Bow and an Arrow"; mentions William Hand Browne's urging him to take the initiative in a Southern Literary Guildwhich he gladly will, out of respect for Browne; discusses possibilities for the guild; hopes to bring out another book of poems.]

[Says he is disappointed that Spencer did not reply to his letter; discusses the successful publication of The Poems of Henry Timrodand request for second edition; believes Timrod's "pathetic" fate and premature death touched the reading public.]

[Says he is happy to do what he can for new book; mentions ironically that, although he is an extreme southerner, he has one literary friend in the South and three in New England; praises Sydney Lanierfor his brilliance and literary gifts.]

Acquisition information:
Purchase 1963 Jan 17
Processing information:

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

Physical location:
Physical description:
6 items