Originally published in 1847, Philip Pendleton Cooke's Froissart Ballads features tales of medieval romance, knighthood, and chivalry inspired by Jean Froissart's 14th-century recounting of daily life. Included, too, are miscellaneous poems originally featured in a myriad of different publications. Of special note is "Florence Vane," a poem edited by Edgar Allan Poe and highly touted as Cooke's finest work.
Born in 1816 in Martinsburg, Virginia (know West Virginia), Cooke was one of 13 children born to a political family. After graduating from Princeton, he dabbled at practicing law, but preferred to read, write, and hunt. Over the years he saw some success with his published work, especially after receiving encouragement from his friend Edgar Allan Poe. Cooke's writing stands as a fine example of Romantic poetry. Tragically, he died at the age of 33 in Clarke County, Virginia, after contracting pneumonia following a hunting trip.
