Prose and Poetry by James Russell Lowell

No. Even though it's listed under 'Prose and Poetry,' this text is actually a publisher's catalogue entry — a commercial listing detailing volumes, bindings, and prices for Lowell's collected works. It lacks verse form, figurative language, and any literary intent. It was likely included in a collection or appendix solely as bibliographic reference material, rather than as a creative piece.

Houghton Mifflin, located in Boston, was the leading publisher of classic American literature during the late 19th century. They also created uniform editions for Longfellow, Whittier, Holmes, and other Fireside Poets.

It is a book size. '8vo' (octavo) indicates that the printer's sheet was folded three times, creating eight leaves (or sixteen pages). 'Crown' refers to the particular paper size used, leading to a book that measures about 7.5 by 5 inches — a nice, mid-sized volume for reading.

It refers to the top edges of the book's pages being gilded — covered with gold or a gold-like material. This decorative finish is linked to high-quality editions and serves to protect the pages from dust while also looking striking on a shelf.

These are binding styles. 'Half calf' refers to a style where the spine and corners are made from calfskin leather, while the rest of the boards are covered in cloth or paper — resulting in a durable and attractive finish. 'Half levant' features a finer, pebble-grained goatskin leather and is considered the more expensive and prestigious choice.

Among the prose, My Study Windows (1871) and Among My Books (two series, 1870 and 1876) were his most famous essay collections — broad literary criticism expressed in a friendly, conversational tone. Fireside Travels (1864) is a more casual travel and sketch book. The poems (vols. 7–10) feature his satirical Biglow Papers and various odes.

The catalogue doesn't state it clearly, but volumes 11 and 12 — Latest Literary Essays and Addresses and The Old English Dramatists — were probably added to the collection after the initial ten-volume edition was released, and they might be physically shorter or published under slightly different conditions.

Quite a bit. It reveals a tiered market: you can purchase individual volumes, a prose-only collection, a poetry-only collection, or the complete set in various binding qualities, all at different price points. The prices range from $17.50 (cloth) to $48.00 (half levant) for the same twelve books, highlighting a culture where the physical object served as a status symbol, not merely a means to convey text.