1858 - 1859: Our American Cousin to Tale of Two Cities

Chronology of World, British and American Literature

Tom Taylor. American. 1858. Play. Our American Cousin. Play that Abraham Lincoln was watching when he was assassinated.

Oliver Wendell Holmes. American. 1858. Poetry. “The Deacon’s Masterpiece, or, The Wonderful ‘One-Hoss Shay.’ ” Satirizing Calvinist dogma or any inflexible though highly logical system designed for permanence. The shay did not break down. It just fell apart all at once.

Oliver Wendell Holmes. American. 1858. Poetry. “The Chambered Nautilus.” Sea creature that enlarges its shell as it grows is example to the human being.

Henry W. Longfellow. American. 1858. Poetry. “The Courtship of Miles Standish.” Standish sends John Alden to woo Priscilla for him. She prefers John. Miles Standish gives his blessing.

Charles Dickens. British. 1859. Novel. A Tale of Two Cities. French Revolution. London and Paris. Descriptions taken from Carlyle’s French Revolution. Darnay and Carlton are look alikes; the latter substitutes for the former on the guillotine. Carton also Loves Lucy. Completely cynical about himself.