Page:Complete Poetical Works of John Greenleaf Whittier (1895).djvu/11



1888, Mr. Whittier supervised the preparation of a collective edition of his writings which was published in seven volumes, under the title of the Riverside Edition, uniform in general plan with the Riverside Edition of Longfellow’s writings. For this edition the poet furnished introductions and head-notes, and in many cases revised the text. He decided which of his earlier poems to discard altogether, which to insert in an appendix, and which to include in the body of his poetry. He also determined on a classification of his poems, and divided the four volumes containing them into definite subdivisions, nine in all besides a small group of his sister’s poems which he wished preserved with his own. Thus, very near the end of his life, he formed what was a definitive edition of his writings. He continued, however, to send out poems occasionally in the remaining four years, and these were gathered after his death into a small volume entitled “At Sundown.” This little book was indeed the extension of one which he had issued privately in the last year of his life.

The present Cambridge Edition is based upon the original Riverside Edition. It contains the same text in the same topical arrangement, together with “At Sundown” and a few poems which were gleaned after Mr. Whittier’s death and included in the authorized biography. The head-notes and the notes at the end of the volume are for the most part copies or abridgments of those used in the Riverside Edition, but a few have been added containing facts brought to light after Mr. Whittier’s death. These are distinguished by being inclosed in brackets [ ]. As in the Cambridge Edition of Longfellow’s Complete Works, a biographical sketch has been provided. The introduction which follows the sketch is that prepared by Mr. Whittier for the Riverside Edition.