In partnership with the Longfellow Chorus, Maine Historical Society
presents:

Death Song of a Mighty Nation: Finding Traces of Hiawatha in Longfellow's
Maine Childhood
Thursday, February 27, 7PM - Longfellow's 207th Birthday!
 
On the poet's birthday, Charles Kaufmann, founding artistic director of
The Longfellow Chorus, explores Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's childhood
interest in the history of Maine's Wabanaki tribes, and how several early
poems and other teenage writings generated themes and motives that would
form the basis of "The Song of Hiawatha."

The program will feature a dramatic reading--with special guests John Bear
Mitchell, Associate Director of the Wabanaki Center at the University of
Maine in Orono, and former Maine Poet Laureate, Betsy Sholl--of
Longfellow's 1823 Junior Exposition “dialog” at Bowdoin College during
which the poet took on the role of a Native American. Betsy will also read
several poems in honor of Longfellow's birthday.

Birthday cake will be served following the formal presentation.

Suggested donation at the door. FMI: www.mainehistory.org/programs.