Melville, Herman, 1819-1891 to James Billson
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC05260 Author/Creator: Melville, Herman, 1819-1891 Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 December 1885 Pagination: 4 p. ; 17.8 x 11.6 cm. Order a Copy
Thanks Billson, an English admirer, for two volumes of the English poet James Thomson, including "Essays & Phantasies," "Bumble," "Indolence," and "The Poet." Praises Thomson's writing, " ... each is so admirably honest and original and informed throughout with the spirit of the noblest natures ... " Laments that the works would have to be cut down to appeal to popular taste. Remarks on Thomson's lack of fame and dismisses literary fame as cheap. "And it must have occurred to you as it has to me, that the further our civilization advances upon its present lines so much the cheaper sort of thing does 'fame' become, especially of the literary sort." Sends his photograph and asks Billson to reciprocate with his own.
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