The Collected Poems

by Henry Timrod, Edd Winfield Parks (Editor), Aileen Wells Parks (Editor)

An important figure in the literature of the antebellum South, Henry Timrod was a member of the literary group of Charleston, South Carolina. This book is a variorum edition of Timrod's major poetry, arranged as nearly as possible in chronological order. A "Notes and Variants" section provides detailed information in a set pattern: the record of publication of each poem, explanatory comments, variant readings, and occasionally a commentary by an earlier critic. The editors have included a biographical and critical Introduction.

216 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2007

About the author

Timrod was born on December 8, 1828, in Charleston, South Carolina, to a family of German descent. His grandfather Heinrich Dimroth emigrated to the United States in 1765 and Anglicized his name. His father was an officer in the Seminole Wars and a poet himself. The elder Timrod died on July 28, 1838, at the age of 44; his son was nine. A few years later, their home burned down, leaving the family impoverished.

Reviews

[Travis Wise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poet Laureate of the Confederacy, but sometimes laurels just mean you had good timing, and even Bob Dylan can only do so much to bring Timrod’s lines back to relevancy. Enslaved to the rhyming words that shackle him from picking the right words (blocked full of the same cliche pairings—bliss, kiss; life, strife; high, sky—you’d expect of a lyrical 4th grader). A few sparkly flecks here—not gold or silver, but bronze—but most of its value comes from history, giving voice to the Lost Cause.