"P.'s Correspondence" is an 1845 sketch by the 19th century American writer

Nathaniel Hawthorne Nathaniel Hawthorne (né Hathorne; July 4, 1804 – May 19, 1864) was an American novelist and short story writer. His works often focus on history, morality, and religion. He was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts, from a family long associat ...

. "P.'s Correspondence" is presented as an epistolary sketch featuring a lengthy letter dated February 29, 1845, and addressed to an unnamed friend who is publishing it. P. has possibly lost his sanity and, despite not leaving his room, has met a wide variety of famous 19th century figures whom he describes. Some of the people he meets were already dead and P. confuses past and present. Among those he encounters in his imagination or claims friendship with are

Lord Byron George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron (22 January 1788 – 19 April 1824) was an English poet. He is one of the major figures of the Romantic movement, and is regarded as being among the greatest poets of the United Kingdom. Among his best-kno ...

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

John Greenleaf Whittier John Greenleaf Whittier (December 17, 1807 – September 7, 1892) was an American Quaker poet and advocate of the abolition of slavery in the United States. Frequently listed as one of the fireside poets, he was influenced by the Scottish poet ...

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (February 27, 1807 – March 24, 1882) was an American poet and educator. His original works include the poems " Paul Revere's Ride", '' The Song of Hiawatha'', and '' Evangeline''. He was the first American to comp ...

Charles Brockden Brown Charles Brockden Brown (January 17, 1771 – February 22, 1810) was an American novelist, historian, and magazine editor, editor of the Early National period. Brown is regarded by some scholars as the most important American novelist before J ...

, and Joel Barlow. The sketch was first published in '' The United States Magazine and Democratic Review'' in April 1845 before being collected with other Hawthorne stories in '' Mosses from an Old Manse'' in 1846.Wright, Sarah Bird. ''Critical Companion to Nathaniel Hawthorne: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work''. New York: Facts on File Inc., 2007: 191.

References

External links

Gutenberg Project full text

{{Authority control 1845 short stories Short stories by Nathaniel Hawthorne Alternate history short stories Works originally published in The United States Magazine and Democratic Review