The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe Volume 12

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... American Prose Writers. No. 2. N. P. WilLis. New Views -- Imagination -- Fancy -- Fantasy -- Humor -- Wit -- Sarcasm -- The Prose Style Of Mr. Willis. [Text: Broadway Journal, Jan. 18, 1845.] In his poetry, and in the matter of his prose, the author of " Melanie" and of the "Inklings of Adventure " has, beyond doubt, innumerable merits :-- still, they are merits which he shares with other writers -- which he possesses in common with Proctor, with Heber, and with Halleck -- in common with Neal, with Hunt, with Lamb, and with Irving ; his prose style, however, is not only a genus per se, but it is his own property " in fee simple impartite," and no man living has ever yet set foot upon it except himself. Now, if any style has been long distinct -- has been long markedly and universally peculiar -- we must, of course, seek the source of the peculiarity not, as some persons are prone to suppose, in any physical habitude or mannerism -- not in any quipping and quibbling of phrase -- not in any twisting of antique conventionalities of expression -- not, (to be brief,) in any mere sleight-of-pen trickeries which, at all times, may be more dexterously performed by an observant imitator than by the original quack -- but in some mental idiosyncrasy, which, unimitated itself because inimitable, preserves the style which is its medium and its exponent from all danger of imitation. In the style of Mr. Willis we easily detect this idiosyncrasy. We have no trouble in tracing it home -- and when we reach it and look it fairly in the face, we recognize it on the instant. It is Fancy. To be sure there is quite a tribe of Fancies -- although one half of them never suspected themselves to be such until so told by the metaphysicians -- but the one of which...