[pg 1]

750 - 89 [price]

Nahant July 16

1853

Dear Sir,

There are already

in English two good books

on the Scandinavian Mytholo-

gy, as you well know;

the work of Piget[?], and

Percy translation of Mallet's

Introduction, a new

edition of which has

lately been published by

[pg 2]

Bohn, in his Library.

Still, I say for one,

go on likewise with yours,

if it is a good book:

for in America we

have as yet done nothing

for the Northmen, except

to write their history.

Something more we

might do for the men

who first discovered

our Country!

[pg 3]

The field of Scandina-

vian Literature lies wide

open. Not one American

has yet pitched his

tent there. Take possession

of it.

In addition to this

book you speak of, I

wish you would write

one on Icelandic

Literature. There is

no such book in English.

[pg 4]

This you might follow

by one on Danish Lit.

and then a third on

Swedish. Work enough

for a life time.

In the Astor Library

at New York, you will

find the necessary ma-

terials.

You have my

God-speed in this work.

Yours truly,

Henry W. Longfellow