Eugene Field, a Study in Heredity and Contradictions — Volume 2Thompson, Slason
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Eugene Field, a Study in Heredity and Contradictions — Volume 2
Thompson, Slason
Field, Eugene, 1850-1895; Journalists -- United States -- Biography; Poets, American -- 19th century -- Biography
The two articles by Eugene Field which follow here are not to be taken
as particularly illuminating examples of his literary art or style. For
those the reader is referred to his collected works; especially those
tales and poems published during his lifetime and to "The Love Affairs
of a Bibliomaniac." These are given to illustrate the liberties Field
took with his living friends and with the verities of literary history.
There was no such book as the "Ten Years of a Song Bird: Memoirs of a
Busy Life," by Emma Abbott; and "The Discoverer of Shakespeare," by
Franklin H. Head, was equally a creation of Field's lively fancy. I
reproduce the latter review from the copy which Field cut from the
Record and sent in pamphlet form to Mr. Head with the following note:
DEAR MR. HEAD: The printers jumbled my review of your essay so
fearfully to-day that I make bold to send you the review
straightened out in seemly wise. Now, I shall expect you to send me
a copy of the book when it is printed, and then I shall feel amply
compensated for the worry which the hotch-potch in the Daily News of
this morning has given me.
Ever sincerely yours,
EUGENE FIELD.
May 21st, 1891.
WHO DISCOVERED SHAKESPEARE?
Mr. Franklin H. Head is about to publish his scholarly and ingenious
essay upon "The Discoverer of Shakespeare." Mr. Head is as
enthusiastic a Shakespeare student as we have in the West, and his
enthusiasm is tempered by a certain reverence which has led him to
view with dismay, if not with horror, the exploits of latter-day
iconoclasts, who would fain convince the credulous that what has
been was not and that he who once wrought never existed. It was Mr.
Head who gave to the world several years ago the charming brochure
wherein Shakespeare's relations and experience with insomnia were so
pleasantly set forth, and now the public is to be favored with a
second essay, one of greater value to the Shakespearian student, in
that it deals directly and intimately and explicitly with the
earlier years of the poet's life. This essay was read before the
Chicago Literary Club several weeks ago, and would doubtless not
have been published but for the earnest solicitations of General
McClurg, the Rev. Dr. Herrick Johnson, Colonel J.S. Norton, and
other local literary patrons, who recognized Mr. Head's work as a
distinctly valuable contribution to Shakespeariana. Answering the
importunities of these sagacious critics, the author will publish
the essay, supplementing it with notes and appendices.
Of the interesting narrative given by Mr. Head, it is our present
purpose to make as complete a review as the limits afforded us this
morning will allow, and we enter into the task with genuine
timidity, for it is no easy thing to give in so small a compass a
fair sketch of the tale and the argument which Mr. Head has
presented so entertainingly, so elegantly, and so persuasively.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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