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James Russell Lowell

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James Russell Lowell
"There is Lowell, who's striving Parnassus to climb With a whole bale of isms tied together with rhyme ; He might get on alone, spite of brambles and boulders But he can't with that bundle he has on his shoulders ; …" -Fable for Critics, Lowell

James Russell Lowell was a father and a husband, but most importantly he was a man of literature. Lowell's works were greatly influenced by those around him, events during his time, and events in his personal life. Lowell had to overcome many "brambles and boulders" through his life, such as the death of his wife and the death of most of his children, which affected, and are apparent in, his works. Although Lowell went through many trying times throughout his life, he was recognized by The American Experience as "the most talented of the Fireside Poets", which also included Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier, and Oliver Wendell Holmes. There is a clear reason why Lowell was recognized as the most talented, but only after researching the life, works, and analyzing those works, one would fully understand this excerpt, and James Russell Lowell. On February 22nd of 1819 James Russell Lowell was the last born child to preacher Charles Lowell and Harriet Spence Lowell in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Lowell's were thought of to be from a wealthy family, but they received no inheritance. Lowell was know for his humor throughout life, humor helped to keep him balanced. Although he felt somewhat troubled, he was a dreamer and, loving laughter, looked at life through humorous eyes. In 1838, when he was 19, Lowell attended Harvard University, where he developed his profound literary skills. At Harvard Law, he attained a law degree- but only because he did not know what else to do career-wise. After his college education, Lowell set up his own practice, but decided to stop because he thought it to be unprofitable and

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