The Magic of Poetry and the Poet's Art

This article bridges the gap between the instinctive liking for musical candence and a true understanding of poetry. Here Stephen Vincent Benét tells the story of his art in a way to interest young children. It was originally published in 1929 and is now republished here with a new introductory biography. Benét was an accomplished writer at an early age, having had his first book published at 17. His best known works are the book-length narrative poem American Civil War, John Brown's Body (1928), and two short stories, The Devil and Daniel Webster (1936) and By the Waters of Babylon (1937).