Many by Key and one by Weybright

This volume contains the complete text of several poems, orations, essays, and manuscripts written by Francis Scott Key, a lengthy introductory letter by Roger B. Taney to an 1857 book containing many of the poems that were written by Key, and a complete manuscript on the subject of Key by Victor Weybright. Key and Taney, both native Marylanders, are famous names in American history. Frances Scott Key is most famous for being imprisoned temporarily on a small ship in Baltimore harbor during the time that the British fleet bombarded Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, with the aim of invading the city of Baltimore, Maryland. While on this ship, he was moved to write a poem, which he put to the tune of an old English drinking song, and which, since 1931, has been the national anthem of the United States. The anthem is, of course, the Star-Spangled Banner.

The other poems, orations, essays, hymns, religious polemics, letters, anti-slavery activities, and other writings of Francis Scoot Key are not as famous as his primary work. Yet they give an unparalleled view into the thinking of an educated man who lived during some of the most turbulent times in the history of the world, with major wars in North America and Europe. A large collection of them is given here in this volume.

The volume includes a hard-to-find, major work by historian Victor Weybright on the life and times of the fascinating Mr. Key.

Dettagli