Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - Christus: "In this world a man must either be anvil or hammer"

Longfellow's journey as a poet began in his youth, marked by early fluency in Latin and a fervent desire for literary success. After publishing his first poem at age 13, he traveled to Europe, where he was inspired to write. His life was marked by both triumphs and tragedies, including the loss of his first wife and the creation of iconic works like "Evangeline" and "The Song of Hiawatha." A key figure among The Fireside Poets, he became America's most beloved poet, leaving a lasting impact on American culture before his death in 1882.