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Jack Kelso: A Dramatic Poem
Hardcover
19th Century United States HistoryGeneral PoetryPlays
ISBN13: 9781025750255
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 274
Weight: 1.23
Height: 0.63 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Jack Kelso a Dramatic Poem is a sweeping verse narrative by Edgar Lee Masters, the acclaimed author of the Spoon River Anthology. This work centers on the life of Jack Kelso, a real-life resident of New Salem and a close friend of a young Abraham Lincoln. Through the medium of dramatic poetry, Masters chronicles Kelso's experiences as a wanderer, scholar, and witness to the rapid transformation of the American landscape.
The poem delves into the philosophical and literary influences that Kelso shared with Lincoln, particularly their mutual love for the works of Shakespeare and Burns. As the narrative progresses, it provides a poignant commentary on the transition from the rugged frontier to an industrialized society, exploring the tensions between individual freedom and the demands of progress. Masters utilizes his signature mastery of character and setting to evoke the atmosphere of 19th-century America, making Jack Kelso a Dramatic Poem both a historical study and a profound meditation on the human condition.
This work remains an essential piece of American literature for those interested in the cultural roots of the Midwest, the life of Lincoln, and the unique poetic voice of one of the 20th century's most significant writers.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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