In this collection of her critical reviews, Fuller expands on the analysis of Longfellow she originally advanced in the December 10, 1845, issue of the New York Daily Tribune. Following Poe, Fuller saw Longfellow’s plagiarism as obvious. And, also following Poe, she took aim at the excessive praise that had been heaped on Longfellow’s work and cast doubt on the durability of his standing:

Twenty years hence, when he stands upon his own merits, he will rank as a writer of elegant, if not always accurate taste, of great imitative power, and occasional felicity in an original way, where his feelings are really stirred.

Boston Public Library, Rare Books & Manuscripts