Leigh Hunt: Selected Writings

by Leigh Hunt, David Jesson Dibley (Editor)

Leigh Hunt (1784-1859) was a prolific, versatile and engaging writer. He outlived many of the poets and essayists of his generation whose reputations overshadowed his, but Coleridge, Wordsworth, Shelley and Keats all owed a debt to his advocacy, as did Tennyson and Browning. A poet of charm and technical skill, and an able translator and playwright, Leigh Hunt excelled as an essayist, literary critic and letter writer. His concern was always, in the words of his son, to 'open more widely the door of the library', to share his literary enthusiasms and extend his readers' tastes. This anthology draws on the full range of Hunt's poetry and prose, revealing a writer committed to the humane and civilizing powers of literature and friendship.

Genres: Poetry, Essays

198 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2003

About the author

British writer James Henry Leigh Hunt, known for his essays, defending Romanticism, edited the Examiner from 1808 to 1821.

This English critic, essayist, poet lived.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leigh_Hunt

Reviews

[Manny]

I had reason today to quote Leigh Hunt's poem "Abou Ben Adhem", which children of my generation were often forced to read in class. I believe this is no longer a requirement, so for the benefit of people who've missed it I will reproduce the text here:

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An angel writing in a book of gold:—
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the presence in the room he said,
"What writest thou?"—The vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?" said Abou. "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerly still; and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one that loves his fellow men."

The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adhem's name led all the rest.

You can kind of see why it's become less popular. Be that as it may, I thought I would share the following story about the late Isaac Asimov, who from an early age was a devout atheist. Young Asimov was also forced to read the poem in class, and when they were finished his teacher asked if anyone could say why Abou Ben Adhem's name headed the list. Asimov put his hand up.

"Yes?" said the teacher.

"Because A is the first letter of the alphabet," said Asimov.