A. FLANAGAN CO., PUBLISHERS,
CHICAGO
Copyright 1899 by W.F. CONOVER
The Annotated Edition
A. FLANAGAN CO., PUBLISHERS, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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This poem, published after the author's death in 1899 by A.
- Themes
- art, home, identity
§01Quick summary
What this poem is about
This poem, published after the author's death in 1899 by A. Flanagan Co. in Chicago, is credited to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It seems to be a brief commemorative piece, likely celebrating or reflecting on the city of Chicago and its resilient spirit. As with much of Longfellow's writing, it explores themes of place, identity, and the enduring human desire to build community and find belonging.
§02Themes
Recurring themes
§03Line by line
Stanza by stanza, with notes
CHICAGO
Editor's note
The title serves as the poem's main focus and statement. By naming the city directly, Longfellow (or the publisher) immediately grounds the reader in a specific American location. By 1899, this city had come to symbolize rapid growth, resilience following the Great Fire of 1871, and a sense of reinvention. This single-word title encapsulates the essence of an entire civic identity.
§04Tone & mood
How this poem feels
The tone is celebratory and community-focused, reflecting the dignified, optimistic spirit that characterizes much of Longfellow's public verse. It conveys a sense of pride without arrogance — the kind of understated confidence a poet brings to a place he feels is worthy of acknowledgment.
§05Symbols & metaphors
Symbols & metaphors
- Chicago
- The city represents American ambition and resilience, having emerged from the prairie and risen from the ashes after the Great Fire of 1871. Naming it pays tribute to its history.
- The publisher's imprint
- The A. Flanagan Co. imprint and the 1899 copyright date highlight that this is a posthumous publication, framing the poem as a legacy—words that outlive their author and continue to resonate with new audiences.
- The copyright notice
- W.F. Conover's 1899 copyright marks the poem's arrival in the lively commercial and civic scene of Chicago, connecting the art to the city's energetic, trade-oriented character.
§06Historical context
Historical context
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow passed away in 1882, which makes this 1899 A. Flanagan Co. publication a posthumous release. By the late 1800s, Longfellow had become the most popular American poet, and publishers frequently released collections, gift books, and occasional poems under his name to satisfy the immense public interest. In 1899, Chicago was basking in the glow of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, which showcased the city as a hub of culture and commerce. A. Flanagan Co. was a prominent educational and literary publisher based in Chicago at the time. Publishing a Longfellow poem under a Chicago label was both a literary and civic act, enhancing the reputation of America's most cherished poet and helping the city assert its role in the national cultural narrative.
§07FAQ
Questions readers ask
The publisher, A. Flanagan Co., presented the attribution in 1899, which was seventeen years after Longfellow died. During this time, posthumous publications sometimes featured genuine unpublished works, but they also occasionally included pieces that were misattributed or put together by editors. Without the complete text, we can't confirm its authenticity, but the publication is certainly a significant historical artifact.
By 1899, Chicago had completely bounced back from the Great Fire of 1871 and was enjoying the aftershocks of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Publishing a poem that celebrated the city during this time was a clear sign that Chicago had established itself as a significant cultural hub in America.
A. Flanagan Co. was a publisher from Chicago that operated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They specialized in educational materials, literary gift books, and popular poetry collections. This background made them an ideal choice for publishing a commemorative piece on Longfellow that would appeal to a wide audience.
The title shown here seems more like a bibliographic or catalog header instead of the poem's real title. The imprint information is 'A. Flanagan Co., Publishers,' while 'Chicago' is actually the poem's title. This kind of formatting is typical of title pages and copyright notices from the 19th century.
Longfellow was fascinated by themes of home, identity, memory, and the passage of time. A poem about Chicago would probably explore his interest in how places serve as vessels for human aspiration and collective memory—the city as a living testament to the people who created it.
This poem isn't typically included in the standard Longfellow curriculum, which usually highlights works like 'Paul Revere's Ride,' 'The Song of Hiawatha,' and 'A Psalm of Life.' It feels more like an occasional or commemorative piece rather than a foundational work.
W.F. Conover, who holds the 1899 copyright, likely served as the editor who compiled or arranged the publication, or he may have been a business partner of A. Flanagan Co. responsible for managing the legal rights. This was a common practice for posthumous poetry collections during that time.
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