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Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington…

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First edition of Tennyson's ode to the Duke of Wellington; one of his earliest Laureate poems, it was, of course, a patriotic piece, but also, as a Horatian ode in English, a notable technical achievement.

Wellington died at Walmer Castle on 14 September, but could not be buried until his son and heir, who was travelling on the Continent at the time, had been notified. He was ultimately buried in St Paul's Cathedral at Queen Victoria's request, in what was 'probably the most ornate and spectacular funeral ever seen in England, the procession from Horse Guards via Constitution Hill to St Paul's being witnessed, it was estimated, by a million and a half people' (ODNB). Tennyson’s ode would be published on 18 November, the day of the funeral; he was to revise it twice, in 1853 and 1855.

Tinker 272; Wise, Tennyson, 56.

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