Thomas Bailey Aldrich Biography | Poet

Thomas Bailey Aldrich was born in 1836 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He spent a significant part of his early life there and wrote about those experiences in his charming memoir, The Story of a Bad Boy, published in 1869. After working briefly as a clerk, Aldrich became a junior literary critic at The Evening Mirror when he was only nineteen. He also published his first book, The Bells, a collection of poems that showed his early style.

From 1855 to 1866, Aldrich worked in various journalism roles and mingled with prominent writers in New York City. However, he felt a strong desire for the more thoughtful and refined literary community of New England. In 1866, he happily accepted an offer to become the editor of Every Saturday, a Boston publication. A few years later, he took on the prestigious role of editor at The Atlantic Monthly, a major literary magazine, serving from 1881 to 1890.

Aldrich's poetry can be divided into two distinct styles. In the first half of his work, he often wrote in a very ornate and elaborate way, filled with vivid imagery and extravagant descriptions. Readers might feel overwhelmed by the abundance of colorful and fragrant words he used, creating a fantastical world reminiscent of the stories from Arabian Nights. He often tried to capture a sense of the exotic, drawing on influences from Eastern literature, though at times, it could feel excessive and overwhelming.

In the second phase of his career, Aldrich's writing became more relatable and better crafted. He developed the ability to create sharper and more precise images in his poetry. Critics have noted that his best works are like delicate engravings, showcasing a refined simplicity that reflects the elegance of a worldly person rather than a naïve one. Although Aldrich resisted the idea that he was merely focused on crafting tiny, polished pieces, many of his most lasting poems are shorter works and sonnets that, while calm in tone, are beautifully constructed.

A collection of Aldrich's most notable poems has been published in a comprehensive edition by Houghton, Mifflin, and Company. He passed away in 1907.