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John Brown’s Body
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Illustration of "The Lamb" from "Songs of Innocence" by William Blake, 1879. poem; poetry
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John Brown’s Body

work by Benét
Written and fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

John Brown’s Body, epic poem in eight sections about the American Civil War by Stephen Vincent BenĂ©t, published in 1928 and subsequently awarded a Pulitzer Prize.

The scrupulously researched narrative begins just before John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry and ends after the assassination of Pres. Abraham Lincoln. BenĂ©t’s tone is one of reconciliation. From his viewpoint there are few villains and many heroes; the North and the South are afforded equal respect. Along with historical figures such as Lincoln and Robert E. Lee, BenĂ©t presents Americans of many backgrounds, occupations, and opinions, from Southern aristocrats and their slaves to farm-boy soldiers from Pennsylvania and Illinois.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.