1858. A collection of verse from the American author, physician and father of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. He turned from a career as a general practitioner to the academic. He was also a contributor to the Atlantic Monthly (which he named), penning the famous series of Breakfast-table sketches, which are imaginary conversations at a Boston boardinghouse and reflective of Holmes's opinions, charm, and wit. He began writing poetry when he was attending college at Cambridge. His first important poem, "Old Ironsides," was a protest against the scrapping of the fighting ship Constitution, and is included in this volume.