Born in the U.S.A. (Bruce Springsteen)

History's Best Selling Books of 1847

1. Evangeline

   Released in 1847 by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, William D. Ticknor and Company

   Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie, published in 1847, stands as a seminal work in American literature, profoundly shaping the nation's understanding of its colonial past and contributing to the development of a distinct American mythology. This epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow brought the tragic story of the Acadian expulsion to a wide audience, transforming a historical footnote into a poignant national narrative. Its release marked a significant moment, popularizing the hexameter form in English poetry and cementing Longfellow's reputation as a master storyteller, whose evocative verse not only entertained but also instilled a sense of empathy and historical reflection among its readers during a period of national expansion and identity formation.