Cohen to shed light on
lesser-known Longfellow at book signing
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Richard Shain Cohen, an author with academic ties to the University of Maine at Presque Isle will be at the Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library on Friday, June 25, to share his latest book, “The Forgotten Longfellow; Man in the Shadows.”
“While at UMPI, from 1974-80, I served as assistant vice president of academic affairs, then vice president of academic affairs, 1976-82 and 1984-86, after which I was a professor of English and now a professor emeritus,” said Cohen.
Cohen’s book tells the story of Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Sr.
“He was an extraordinary, multi-talented man – the second youngest brother of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the father Alexander Junior,” said Cohen.
Among his talents, Cohen explained Longfellow was a well-known architect and surveyor, but his skills went largely unnoticed, paling to his poet father and son.
“He not only provided valuable information regarding the coast of Maine, particularly in the Portland area, with his many maps, drawings and measurements, but he was also an explorer of the northern Maine wilderness long before Henry Thoreau,” said Cohen.
Additional accomplishments included sailing and painting.
“He sailed the Horn (1833-35) with his uncle, Alexander Scammel Wadsworth, commodore of the Pacific Fleet. He also wrote of life aboard a Nineteenth Century man-of-war, providing descriptions of their ports of call in letters, drawings, maps and other art work,” explained Cohen.
Longfellow also took part in boundary issues between Maine and Canada.
“He helped in the settlement of the boundary lines between Maine and New Brunswick, Canada, resulting from the bloodless Aroostook War between England and the United States (1838-39),” said Cohen, noting Longfellow’s ability with words provided descriptive images of the people, environment and region during this period.
Also a humorist, he created cartoons that good-naturedly satirized himself, his work, his bachelorhood, marriage, the Portland Society of Natural Science and his close friends, said Cohen.
In addition, Cohen said Longfellow produced fine art drawings of subjects ranging from sailing and fishermen to horses as dray haulers, racers and graceful animals.
Cohen has published several works.
“My other publications and activities include: ‘Monday: End of the Week,’ a comparison between a medical and academic family, the latter primarily interested in its own gratification; ‘Be Still, My Soul,’ a story of World War II on the home and war fronts; ‘Petal on a Black Bough,’ a fantasy based on Celtic mythology and Queen Medb brought back to life during the Irish rebellion in the time of World War I; and a book of poetry with my brother, Alfred R. Cohen, ‘Only God Can Make a Tree.’ I also wrote chapters of ‘Aroostook: Land of Promise,’ general editor Anna McGrath and former head librarian at UMPI; academic reviews and articles, and, with the aid of a Shell grant, a monograph on Samuel Richardson in major library holdings, including UMPI,” said Cohen.
Cohen’s accomplishments also included serving as director and principal participant in a National Endowment for the Arts Grant, “Images of Aroostook,” in the special collection at the Turner Family Library at UMPI and which traveled throughout the state.
Cohen will be signing books at the Presque Isle library on June 25 from 6-7 p.m. in the gallery. For more information, contact 764-2571. For more information on “The Forgotten Longfellow” or to place an order, visit www.the ForgottenLongfellow.com.
