Discover the Intriguing World of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Top 7 Fun Facts You Never Knew

1. Revere's Ride: A Poetic Game of Telephone

Paul Revere: colonial American's favorite "one if by land, two if by sea" lone rider or just an unwitting protagonist in a literary game of telephone tag? Behold the truth: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" immortalized Revere to the point where many people mistakenly believe he singlehandedly warned of the British attack when, in fact, he was joined by fellow riders William Dawes and Samuel Prescott. Longfellow's poetic oversight sparked controversy and even inspired a parody poem about the unsung Dawes.
Source => history.howstuffworks.com

2. Longfellow's Love: A Poetic Siege

They say love conquers all, but in the case of Mr. Longfellow, it was a downright poetic siege: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's courtship with Frances Appleton lasted several years, filled with complicated emotions and a shared passion for poetry, until an unexpected encounter in 1843 ignited their romance and led to a whirlwind engagement and intimate wedding in their Boston home.
Source => nps.gov

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=> Fun Facts about Stan-Lee

3. Longfellow's Historic House of Literary Legends

In the immortal words of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Longfellow's crib was the place where "parents just didn't understand": Situated at 105 Brattle Street, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's house hosted numerous prominent historical figures like George Washington, housed an extensive library with books in over 30 languages, and witnessed the creation of legendary works such as Evangeline and "Paul Revere's Ride".
Source => nps.gov

4. Evangeline: The Epic Poem's Great Escape

A divine case of "Lost and Found": In a twist that would put even J.K. Rowling to shame, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem, "Evangeline," nearly disappeared without a trace! Stashed away in a trunk and sent off to Germany like it was vying for its own European tour, the precious cargo went astray in a train station in 1872. Miraculously, more than 50 years later, and probably feeling like a scene straight out of Narnia, the trunk was discovered in a house in Nova Scotia and returned to the United States in 1957 - just further proof that poets have the best travel stories.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Longfellow's Flaming Fannies

If there were an episode of "Flaming Fannies and Tragic Housefires: 19th Century Edition," Henry Wadsworth Longfellow would be the star without a doubt: His wife, Fanny, died in a tragic blaze in 1861, leaving Longfellow so heartbroken that her memory inspired some of his most celebrated works.
Source => courant.com

6. Patriotic Son-Rise Special

Serving up a hot "son-rise" special with a side of patriotism: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's son, Charles, was a Second Lieutenant in the Union army during the Civil War at the tender age of 18, got wounded in action, but soldiered on to continue his service.
Source => thegospelcoalition.org

7. From Battle-Anthem to Fantasy Catchphrase

Who would've thought that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow could leave one shouting "Excelsior!" as they marched into battle, and inspire the catchphrase of a modern-day fantasy protagonist? Well, be prepared to be entertained and educated, my friends: Longfellow's spirited "Excelsior" poem served as a Victorian battle-anthem for freedom fighters and was later adopted by the protagonist Richard Gansey III in the popular young adult series, The Raven Cycle, as a rallying cry for their magical adventures.
Source => muse.jhu.edu