Anne Lynch Botta.
Anne Lynch Botta’s Works
During her sixty year career, ALB contributed dozens of poems to gift books and journals, published several books, and featured prominently in popular anthologies.
anne lynch botta’s works
Anne Lynch Botta began her publishing career in the 1830s while still completing her formal education at the progressive Albany Female Academy. Over the next six decades she consistently contributed poems to prestigious journals such as The Democratic Review, The Home Journal, The New York Mirror, and The Broadway Journal. Her works were also much sought after for inclusion in the popular gift books The Religious Souvenir; The Gift: A Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Present; The Diadem for MDCCCXLVI: A Present for All Seasons; The Parlour Annual and Family Christian Casket; The Opal: A Pure Gift for the Holy Days; and The Dew-Drop: A Tribute of Affection among others.
Unlike many of her contemporaries, ALB seems never to have published under a pseudonym, and her pieces are easily identifiable as they all appear under some variation of her four names “Anne Charlotte Lynch Botta” (although “Anne” was occasionally spelled without the “e” and Botta was not added until the 1850s). Most acclaimed during her lifetime was her late compendium Handbook to Universal Literature, which was so popular that she produced a second, expanded edition for the twenty-fifth anniversary of its original publication.
This page has attempted to collect the many pieces ALB published during her lifetime into one comprehensive list. Her works, however, are scattered across dozens of journals, many of which have not been preserved. Those that have been preserved have not necessarily been digitized due to the secondary status literary journals occupy in current conceptions of nineteenth century literature. Any perceived scarcity in this list, therefore, should be regarded not as evidence of the insignificance of nineteenth century journals, but rather of the disregard in which they have recently been held. This scarcity should, moreover, be regarded as an opportunity for ongoing academic research—an invitation to reconstitute the record through the digitization of undiscovered materials.
Also, remember that the majority of the poems that appear in her collection of poetry were published first in journals; it was their success through that medium that led to their collection into a volume.
books.
ALB published three books during her lifetime—a collection of works by Rhode Islanders, a collection of her own poems, and a guide to world literature. After her death, her husband assembled testimonials from her friends together with a selection of ALB’s letters and poetry, which he published as a memoir of ALB’s life.
The Rhode-Island Book (1841)
Within a year of moving to Providence, RI, ALB’s interest in local history led her to undertake a compilation of works by Rhode Island’s preminent citizens. The resulting 352 page collection, which she titled The Rhode-Island Book was published by H. Fuller, a Boston-based printer, and consisted of 83 pieces written by Rhode Island’s best writers, both male and female. Included in the collection are two poems by ALB herself, seven pieces by Sarah Helen Whitman, and four poems by William J. Pabodie, who would later play an instrumental role in SHW’s termination of her engagement to Edgar Allan Poe.
Poems (1849)
ALB’s only collection of poems was published in 1849 and collected pieces selected from nearly twenty years of journal submissions. Published by George P. Putnam, a New York printer, the 189-page volume featured 92 poems by ALB in addition to 10 illustrations by a range of artists, presumably of ALB’s acquaintance. The poems include sonnets, elegies, and poems inspired by artwork.
Handbook to Universal Literature (1860) and Revised Edition (1885)
While studying the literatures of the world for her own benefit, ALB realized that no attempt had been made to centralize surveys of the many national literatures into a single handbook that students might easily reference. Accordingly, she decided to edit the materials she had collected in the course of her studies into a single, accessible volume—hence its subtitle, Designed for Popular Reading and as a Text-Book for Schools and Colleges.
The first edition was published in 1860 by Derby & Jackson, a New York publishing company, and consisted of twenty sections, each of which explore the literature of a particular nation or set of nations. The updated edition of 1885 was published by Houghton, Mifflin and Company’s The Riverside Press and consists of an expanded twenty-four sections. Both volumes are in the 500-600 page range.
Memoirs of Anne C. L. Botta: Written by Her Friends (1894)
After ALB’s death in 1891, her husband Vincenzo received hundreds of letters of condolence from her many national and international acquaintances. As she had left behind no autobiography or memoir, Vincenzo decided to employ these texts as a means of creating a portrait of her life. He accordingly selected the most meaningful of those texts and solicited biographical sketches from her closest friends for inclusion in the volume he would release three years later. This volume was published by J. Selwin Tait & Sons, a New York company, and divided its 459 pages between four main sections: Recollections by Her Friends, Selections from Her Letters, Selections from Letters to Her, and Selections from Her Writings.
anthologies.
Anthologies, especially of poetry, were extremely popular with magazine-readers in the 19th century, and the inclusion of an author’s work in an anthology not only signified their talent but also considerably boosted the readership of the magazines through which they regularly published.
The Female Poets of America (1848)
Based largely on his earlier volume The Poets and Poetry of America (1842), Rufus Griswold became something of an authority on American verse in the late 1840s, at which time he released a second anthology of American poetry, this time focusing exclusively on female poets. The volume collects poetry by nearly 100 women and includes 31 poems by and a biographical sketch of ALB (beginning on page 232).
The American Female Poets with Biographical and Critical Notices (1848)
Published the same year as Griswold’s Female Poets of America, American Female Poets placed its editor, Caroline May, in a literary feud with Griswold, who, jealous of his reputation as tastemaker of American poetry, resented others’ intrusion into his corner of the market. May, an English-born poet and literary critic who immigrated to the United States while in her teens, refused to cower before Griswold and instead continued releasing anthologies over the 1850s. This volume contains works by eighty American poetesses and includes 12 poems by and a biographical sketch of EE (beginning on page 449). This anthology was later republished as Pearls from the American Female Poets (1869).
The Female Poets of America (1851)
In the wake of Griswold’s 1848 anthology, anthologies of female poets became popular in the United States. Originally published in 1849, this Female Poets of America was compiled by Thomas B. Read, himself a poet and painter who would later produce portraits of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Abraham Lincoln, Lord Tennyson, and both Brownings. The volume collects poetry by nearly 80 women and includes 5 poems by and a biographical sketch of ALB (beginning on page 265).
In this anthology, editor Sarah Josepha Hale undertook the monumental task of compiling works by women from their earliest entry into the canon of world literature up to the “present” of 1850. Standing just under 1,000 pages in length, the volume begins with works by historical figures such as Cleopatra, Agrippina, Sappho, Joan of Arc, Lucrezia Borgia, Anne Boleyn, and Elizabeth I before giving way to the popular authoresses of the mid-nineteenth century. Included in the latter half of the work are 7 poems by and a biographical sketch of EE (beginning on page 644).
Cyclopaedia of American Literature (1855)
This vast multi-volume set was compiled by brothers Everett Augustus Duyckinck & George Long Duyckinck who together edited The Literary World, a New York literary journal, and who inadvertently dominated the New York publishing scene in the 1840s-1850s. The second volume of this “Cyclopaedia” includes 2 poems by and a biographical sketch of ALB (beginning on page 627).
The Female Prose Writers of America (1856)
While multiple anthologies of male writers, both prose and poetic, and even a few anthologies of female poets had been released prior to the 1850s, very little space had been allowed to the consideration of female prose writers prior to the publication of The Female Prose Writers of America edited by John S. Hart (1856). The volume features sixty-one authoresses, providing “biographical sketches and specimens of their writing” for each woman; a short biographical sketch and a selection of ALB’s prose may be found beginning on page 344.
gift books.
Although it was in England that they first came into vogue, gift books quickly sped their way to American shores where they found an eager market. A hybrid between magazine and book, gift books collected poems, short stories, and essays written in the previous year into a single lavishly bound and decorated hardcover or leather volume. Gift books were typically published in the autumn and made popular holiday presents.
Poetry
“Teaching the Scriptures” (1839). Published under the name “Miss Ann C. Lynch” in The Religious Souvenir, a gift book edited by Mrs. L. H. Sigourney, (pages 154-55).
“Paul Preaching at Athens” (1839 / 1845). Published under the name “Miss Ann Charlotte Lynch” in The Religious Souvenir, a gift book edited by Lydia H. Sigourney, (pages 177-179).
“The Wounded Vulture” (1845). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Gift: A Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Present, a gift book edited by George Rippey Stewart, (page 26-27).
“The Necklace” (1845). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Gift: A Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Present, a gift book edited by George Rippey Stewart, (page 40).
“On a Picture of Harvey Birch” (1845). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Gift: A Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Present, a gift book edited by George Rippey Stewart, (page 167-68).
“Washington Crossing the Alleghany” (1845). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Gift: A Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Present, a gift book edited by George Rippey Stewart, (pages 277-78).
“Leaves from the Diary of a Recluse” (1845). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Gift: A Christmas, New Year, and Birthday Present, a gift book edited by George Rippey Stewart, (pages 279-300).
“The Earth to the Sun” (1846). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Diadem for MDCCCXLVI: A Present for All Seasons, a gift book edited by E. L. Carey ,(pages 10-11).
“Lines: On Reading Some Verses Entitled ‘A Farewell to Love’” (1846). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Diadem for MDCCCXLVI: A Present for all Seasons, a gift book edited by Emily Percival, (page 80).
“Bones in the Desert” (1846). Published under the name “Ann C. Lynch” in The Opal, a gift book edited by John Keese, (pages 120-122).
“The Century Plant” (1846). Published under the name “Miss Ann C. Lynch” in The Parlour Annual and Family Christian Casket, a gift book published by J. E. D. Comstock, (pages 120).
“The Wasted Fountains” (1847). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Opal: A Pure Gift for the Holy Days, a gift book edited by John Keese, (page 42-44).
“Sonnet: The Honey-Bee” (1847). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Opal: A Pure Gift for the Holy Days, a gift book edited by John Keese, (page 110).
“Lines: Sing Me That Song Again” (1847). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Opal: A Pure Gift for the Holy Days, a gift book edited by John Keese, (page 198).
“Christ Betrayed” (1847). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Opal: A Pure Gift for the Holy Days, a gift book edited by John Keese, (page 302-03).
“The Image Broken” (1852). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Dew-Drop: A Tribute of Affection, a gift book edited by William Henry Benade, (pages 40-42). [Reprinted from the January 1849 issue of Sartain’s Union Magazine of Literature & Art (see entry below)]
Translations
“The Dragon of Vincennes” (1855). Translated from the French by “Anne C. Lynch” in The Home Annual: A Token for 1855, a gift book edited by J. T. Headley (pages 96-101).
journal submissions.
Poetry
“A Thought by the Sea-Shore” (December 1842). Published under the name “Miss Ann C. Lynch” in The United States Magazine and Democratic Review (edited by John L. O’Sullivan): Vol. XI, no. 54, pages 644-645.
“The Death of the Prophet” (March 1843). Published under the name by the name “Miss Ann C. Lynch” in The United States Democratic Review (edited by John L. O’Sullivan): Vol. XII, no. 57, pages 300-301.
“Books for the People” (June 1843). Published under the name “Miss Ann C. Lynch” in The United States Magazine and Democratic Review (edited by John L. O’Sullivan): Vol. XII, no. 60, page 603.
“Ode: For the Celebration of the Fourth of July” (August 1843). Published under the name “Miss Anne C. Lynch” in The United States Magazine and Democratic Review (edited by John L. O’Sullivan): Vol. XII, no. 62, page 153.
“The Dying Sycamore” (September 1843). Published under the name “Miss Anne C. Lynch” in The United States Magazine and Democratic Review (edited by John L. O’Sullivan): Vol. XIII, no. 63, page 302.
“Thoughts in a Library” (November 1843). Published under the name “Miss Anne C. Lynch” in The United States Democratic Review (edited by John L. O’Sullivan): Vol. XIII, no. 65, page 520.
“Lines on the Death of an Infant” (December 1843). Published under the name “Miss Anne C. Lynch” in The United States Democratic Review (edited by John L. O’Sullivan): Vol. XIII, no. 66, page 623.
“Lines to Frederica Bremer” (February 1844). Published under the name “Miss Anne C. Lynch” in The United States Democratic Review (edited by John L. O’Sullivan): Vol. XIV, no. 68, page 131.
“Sonnet: Aspirations” (February 1845). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The United States Democratic Review (edited by John L. O’Sullivan): Vol. XVI, no. 80, page 196.
“The Ideal” (June 21, 1845). Published under the name “Anne Charlotte Lynch” in The Broadway Journal (edited by Edgar Allan Poe): Vol. 1, no. 25, page 390.
“The Ideal Found” (June 21, 1845). Published under the name “Anne Charlotte Lynch” in The Broadway Journal (edited by Edgar Allan Poe): Vol. 1, no. 25, page 390.
“Sonnet on Seeing the Ivory Statue of Christ” (November 15, 1845). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Broadway Journal (edited by Edgar Allan Poe): Vol. 2, no. 19, page 283.
“A Farewell to Ole Bull” (December 6, 1845). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Broadway Journal (edited by Edgar Allan Poe): Vol. 2, no. 22, page 339.
“Sonnet. [The honey-bee that wanders all day long]” (October 1848). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in Godey’s Lady’s Book (edited by Sarah Josepha Hale): Vol. XXXVII, no. 4, page 208.
“The Battle of Life” (November 1848). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in Graham’s Magazine (edited by G. R. Graham, J. R. Chandler, & J. B. Taylor): Vol. XXXIII, no. 5, page 266.
“To My Mother” (November 1848). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Union Magazine of Literature & Art (edited by C. M Kirkland): Vol. III, no. 5, page 221.
“A Dirge for O’Connell” (January 1849). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in Graham’s Magazine (edited by G. R. Graham, J. R. Chandler, & J. B. Taylor): Vol. XXXIV, no. 1, page 15.
“The Image Broken” (January 1849). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in Sartain’s Union Magazine of Literature & Art (edited by Caroline M Kirkland & J. S. Hart): Vol. IV, no. 1, page. 56.
“Milton: A Sonnet” (January 1850). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in Sartain’s Union Magazine of Literature & Art (edited by Caroline M. Kirkland & J. S. Hart): Vol. VIII, no. 1, page 48.
“Nightfall in Hungaria” (January 1850). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in Sartain’s Union Magazine of Literature & Art (edited by Caroline M. Kirkland & J. S. Hart): Vol. VI, no. 1, page 50.
“A Valentine. To ----- -----.” (February 1850). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in Sartain’s Union Magazine of Literature & Art (edited by Caroline M. Kirkland & J. S. Hart): Vol. VI, no. 2, page 154.
“Requiem [to Frances Sargent Osgood]” (August 1850). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in Sartain’s Union Magazine of Literature & Art (edited by Caroline M. Kirkland & J. S. Hart): Vol VII, no. 2, page 102.
“To My Husband” (November 1856). Published under the name “A. L. B.” in Southern Literary Messenger (edited by John Reuben Thompson): Vol. XXIII, no. 11, pg. 386.
Prose
“Recollections of My Last Visit to Niagara” (July 1848). Published under the name “Ann E. C. Lynch” in The Union Magazine of Literature & Art (edited by Caroline M. Kirkland): Vol. III, no. 1, pages 7-10.
“The Solitary of St. Renan” (September 1848). Published under the name “Miss Anne C. Lynch” in The Union Magazine of Literature & Art (edited by Caroline M. Kirkland): Vol. III, no. 3, pages 138-139.
“A Fortnight at Newport” (December 1848). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Union Magazine of Literature & Art (edited by Caroline M. Kirkland): Vol. III, no. 6, pages 270-273.
“Grace Greenwood” (December 1848). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in Godey’s Lady’s Book (edited by Sarah Josepha Hale): Vol. XXXVII, no. 6, pages 327-331.
“Frederika Breme” (September 1850). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in Sartain’s Union Magazine of Literature & Art (edited by Caroline M. Kirkland & J. S. Hart): Vol. VII, no. 3, pages 169-173.
Translation
“Come on the sea, beloved” [from the French of De Vigny] (November 8, 1845). Published under the name “Anne C. Lynch” in The Broadway Journal (edited by Edgar Allan Poe): Vol. II, no. 18, page 267.