Lowell, James Russell born February 2, Lowell released Conversations on Some of the Old Poets in 1845, a compilation of analytical essays that featured anti-slavery arguments. He produced roughly 50 antislavery essays for journals between 1845 and 1850. His book contained introductions by Henry David Thoreau and William Ellery Channing and was widely praised for its literary style. It is considered one of the first critical studies of English poetry. Lowell died at the age of 44 in Boston due to tuberculosis. His body was returned to Massachusetts for burial in Pine Grove Cemetery in Hampden County. His work focuses on literature, especially poetry, but also includes essays on music, artists, and other topics. One of his most famous essays, "The Present State of Letters", published in the National Magazine in 1844, argued that the popular culture of his time had reduced the seriousness of literature and called for better education in writing to restore its value. This argument would become central to the debate over public education in America for many years to come. Another important essay by Lowell is "On Translating Homer". In this article, he calls for greater accuracy in translations of ancient Greek texts into English. He also discusses the differences between poetic translation and prose translation.