Cambridge Sketches

Cambridge Sketches, written by Frank Preston Stearns in 1905, is a collection of reflective essays that captures the academic and cultural life of Cambridge, Massachusetts, particularly during the mid-19th century. The book features notable figures associated with Harvard University, including poet Longfellow and professor Francis J. Child, offering insights into their lives and the intellectual environment of the time. Stearns recounts the atmosphere at Harvard College around the end of the American Civil War, highlighting the complex emotions of students celebrating General Lee's surrender while grappling with personal losses.