Universal History Archive/Getty Images Renowned writer Ralph Waldo Emerson recognized young Emma’s talent and became one of her mentors. Emma Lazarus’ only novel, Alide: An Episode in Goethe’s Life, was praised by the famous Russian author Ivan Turgenev who wrote to her that, “An author who writes as you do…is not far from being himself a master.” By 1882, more than 50 of her poems and translations had appeared in mainstream publications. She also wrote plays, novels, and continued to do translation work. One stellar review from Illustrated London News declared, “Miss Lazarus must be hailed by impartial literary criticism as a poet of rare original power.” In 1871, Lazarus published her second book, Admetus and Other Poems, which she dedicated it to Emerson. She transitioned from self-publishing to landing poems in popular literary magazines like Lippincott’s and Scribner’s. Soon enough, Emma Lazarus’ writings began receiving more public attention. Emerson offered the young writer praise, criticism, and thoughtful notes on her work. The two maintained a steady correspondence, and their relationship as mentor and mentee blossomed over the years. The next year, Lazarus boldly sent the famed American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson a copy of her book. Getty Images Emma Lazarus grew up in New York City in the second half of the 19th century. The book, financed by her father, was simply titled Poems and Translations Written Between the Ages of Fourteen and Seventeen. In 1866, when she was only 17 years old, Emma Lazarus published her first book, a 207-age collection her writings and translations. Her parents, particularly her father, encouraged her to pursue her budding passion. Even as a child, Lazarus spent most of her time writing poetry and translating works from German and French. Decades later, Lazarus’ maternal great-grandfather, Gershom Mendes Seixas, became the synagogue’s cantor and the first American-born Jewish religious leader ever.Ĭoming from a privileged family, Lazarus received private tutoring on an array of subjects, from arithmetic to mythology to Italian, but her strongest suit was the written word. They founded the first American synagogue, Shearith Israel, soon after.
Her father, a wealthy sugar merchant named Moses Lazarus, could trace his ancestry back to America’s first Jewish settlers who landed in New Amsterdam in 1654 after the Portuguese Inquisition in Brazil. The fourth of seven children, Lazarus was a Sephardic Jew. Wikimedia Commons The talented poet’s work was heavily influenced by her Jewish identity and the refugee crisis during her lifetime.Įmma Lazarus was born 1849 in the vibrant, cosmopolitan neighborhood of Union Square in New York City.
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