E500914A. The Poems of Elizabeth Barrett Browning (New York, 1850).
The Literary World (New York), 14 September 1850, p. 210.
As reprinted in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 16, 312.
The publication of a new edition of the works of a poet, so peculiar and refined—appealing to a more select and cultivated class of readers—and in a form of elegance and excellence involving a considerable outlay, is something of an evidence that the public are not indifferent to the better flights and utterances of the Muse. There is no living writer, whose compositions demand a more thorough mutual understanding, both in sympathy and culture, between poet and reader, than these; and we cannot believe they would have been now issued anew unless there had been a substantial call for them. We can heartily commend Messrs. Francis & Co. for selecting Miss Barrett; and for presenting her so agreeably in unwonted luxury of type and paper.
There are, however, several points connected with the present issue, involving the proprieties, both as regards author and publisher, on which we are constrained to dwell.
Without voucher of editor or publisher, it might be supposed at first sight that these volumes were an authentic publication under direction of the distinguished author herself, at least an exact reprint of such original London publication. A brief examination of their arrangement, as compared with the previous edition issued by Messrs. Langley, in this city, several years since, and authorized by Miss Barrett, will show an example of gross carelessness which cannot be allowed to pass, in a literary journal, without some severity of comment. The custom of issuing surreptitious and misedited editions of the writings of foreign poets has prevailed to so injurious an extent in this country, as at length to require a comment. To make clear its necessity in this particular case, a brief historical statement of the course and progress of Miss Barrett’s American reputation seems to be demanded. In 1841, we believe none of Miss Barrett’s poems had ever appeared in American print, nor had her name, as far as we know, reached the American public, in any mention, in newspaper or magazine: when for the first time a criticism appeared in a critical monthly (“Arcturus”). That was the first critical recognition of the authoress in the United States: which was followed in 1844 by Messrs. Langley’s re-publication of the two volumes issued by Moxon in London—from the advanced sheets furnished for that purpose by Miss Barrett to Mr. Mathews, who was her chief American correspondent. The edition of Messrs. Langley was introduced by a dedication and preface of Miss Barrett. Without regarding in the least that arrangement of her own poems, the present compiler has taken the liberty to add to that collection the Seraphim and other Poems, not included in her own authorized edition; dividing the mass into two equal volumes—removing the dedication and preface from their proper position—and prefixing them to an equal half of the entire collection—a palpable deception, calculated to cast discredit on the edition. Further arrogating a right to deal with these writings in commission and omission as they chose, the compiler, whoever he may be, has stricken off a note explanatory of a passage in her preface, and also another note in the body of the volumes attached to a quotation from an American poet. That these two notes were complimentary to Mr. Mathews, her own chosen medium of communication with the American public, by no means diminishes the discreditable character of the proceeding, particularly as all other notes of a like kind are left in their places. Who appointed Messrs. Francis & Co. or their compiler, to put in or leave out of the writings of Miss Barrett, according to their caprice, judgment or no judgment? What reliance can be placed on editions of poets, issued with such a stigma on their front? It is to be regretted, if it was the wish of the publishers to furnish our community with a permanent edition of the Poet’s writings—worthy of a place in the Library—that they had not waited for the new English edition, now immediately forthcoming, which will be issued under her own directions, and contain the writings,—selected and arranged by herself—by which she wishes to have her fame adjudged. For that authentic and reliable publication we shall reserve our critical judgment: which will show that the distinguished lady so mispresented and misrepresented to us now, may fairly claim a poetical position among the most eminent of our own or any age.
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[Editors’ note: Charles S. Francis responded to this review in the 28 September 1850 issue of The Literary World; see SD1451.
Reviewed:
Poems (EBB), New York: C.S. Francis, 1850.
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