A beloved figure in his own era——a household name for such poems as “Barbara Frietchie” and “The Barefoot Boy”—John Greenleaf Whittier remains an emotionally honest, powerfully reflective voice. A Quaker deeply involved in the struggle against slavery (he was harassed by mobs more than once) he enlisted his poetry in the abolitionist cause with such powerful works as “The Hunters of Men,” “Song of Slaves in the Desert,” and “Ichabod!”, his mournful attack on Daniel Webster’s betrayal of the anti-slavery cause. Whittier’s narrative gift is evident in such perennially popular poems as “Skipper Ireson’s Ride” and the Civil War legend “Barbara Frietchie,” while in his masterpiece “Snow-Bound” he created a vivid, flavorful portrait of the country life he knew as a child in New England. “His diction is easy, his detail rich and unassuming, his emotion deep,” writes editor Brenda Wineapple. “And the shale of his New England landscape reaches outward, promising not relief from pain but a glimpse of a better, larger world.” About the American Poets Project Elegantly designed in compact editions, printed on acid-free paper, and textually authoritative, the American Poets Project makes available the full range of the American poetic accomplishment, selected and introduced by today’s most discerning poets and critics.

William Jolliff, Professor of English at George Fox University, has selected 55 of John Greenleaf Whittier's more than 500 poems with the intention of turning Quaker (and other) readers into Whittier fans. His guiding focus for this edition is readability by contemporaries. A biographical and critical introduction and the identification of themes in introductions to each section are important guides. William Jolliff's brief introductions to the poems themselves give specific historical background and interpretive help when necessary. Includes Snow-Bound, Ichabod, Telling the Bees, The Barefoot Boy, Skipper Ireson's Ride, and In the Old South.

The church was real special, like God was always there...his mom was always saying, Going to church was like going on top of a mountain and feeling Gods breeze blow all your troubles away What changed this to the point that Preacher Bernie Parsons believed the Glory of God was no longer present at Highland Hill Church? Read how this preachers confidence of knowing that God is close is jeopardized when he is impacted by a divorce issue, lying, adultery, and murder, all conducted within the boundaries of the church membership. How Reverend Parsons is confronted with these situations creates the pounding question in his mind whether or not Gods Glory is residing with them: has God written the name Ichabod over the church? The name Ichabod, taken from the old testament, poses a query, which asks where is the Glory, or states passively, the Glory has departed.

A fresh and provocative approach to the popular schoolroom poets and the reading public who learned them by heart.