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The first thing I ever published was a note in the old Renaissance News on Robert Barret's translation of Du Bartas (a MS at the Folger). When I looked the man (Barret or maybe Barrett) I saw that he had published a book on the military but also had written what the Bodleian catalogue, as I remember, called the longest poem in English, an epic. I cannot lay my hands on my little piece at the moment, but I remember sending for a film and the incredulous librarian writing back to see if I really meant that I wanted the whole thing. It took up most of a reel. I long ago gave it to someone who seemed to need it (yes, really), but it was sure impressive and done in a sort of beyond-Sylvester style. Joshua Sylvester, that is, not the persecutor of Tweety. Anne Prescott. > Ted Steinberg sends the following: > ---------------------------------- > > David, you might want to send this to the list. I can't get through. > It may not actually be the longest epic, but it sure seems like it: > Ted Steinberg > > Emmons, Richard, M. D The Fredoniad; or, Independence Preserved. An > Epick Poem on the Late War of 1812. Boston: Published for the Author by > William Emmons, 1827. > > 4 vols, 8vo, original purple cloth spines, gray boards and printed paper > labels. Some scattered foxing and stains; bindings a bit worn; very good > set. > > ¶ An interminable work, often called both the longest and worst > epic produced in America. Emmons, nonetheless, was a successful > versifier of American wars. His Battle of Bunker Hill (1839) went > through at least 12 editions by 1870, but it was a mere 144 pages long. > He also wrote epics on the defense of Baltimore, the battle of New > Orleans, etc. He did not live to see or write about the Civil War. > Emmons was a resident of Great Crossings, Kentucky, and must surely rank > as one of Kentucky's earliest poets. He published a poem in Lexington in > 1822. > > $US275 > > This item is listed on Bibliopoly by The Brick Row Book Shop; click here > for further details. > http://www.bibliopoly-search.com/servlets/server?_config_=bibliopoly&_action_=MainFrameFromStaticPages&_display_action_=DisplayBook&_book_id_=6589254&_price_=275.00&_currency_=USD >