In addition to his labors in the public service and as a newspaper man, Flagg found time for higher literary work, and won considerable distinction in that field. His first book, _The Far West_, although somewhat stilted in style, possesses considerable literary merit. Encouraged by the success of his initial endeavor, he wrote the following year (1839) the _Duchess of Ferrara_ and _Beatrice of Padua_, two novels, each of which passed through at least two editions. The _Howard Queen_ (1848) and _Blanche of Artois_ (1850) were prize productions. _De Molai_ (1888), says the New York _Sun_ of the period, is "a powerful, dramatic tale which seems to catch the very spirit of the age of Philip of France. It is rare to find a story in which fact and invention are so evenly and adroitly balanced." Our author also wrote several dramas, which were staged in Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and New York; he also composed numerous poems for newspapers and magazines. His masterpiece, however, was a history dedicated to his lifelong friend and colleague, George D. Prentice, entitled _The City of the Sea_ (2 vols., New York, 1853). This work was declared by the _Knickerbocker_ to be "a carefully compiled, poetically-written digest of the history of the glorious old Venice--a passionate, thrilling, yet accurate and sympathetic account of the last struggle for independence." At the time of his death Flagg had in preparation a volume of reminiscences, developed from a diary kept during forty years, but this has never been published.[1] [1] For a list of Flagg's prose and poetical writings, contributions to periodicals, and editorial works, see "Annual Report of the Librarian of Bowdoin College for the year ending June 1, 1891," in Bowdoin College _Library Bulletin_ (Brunswick, Maine, 1895).