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[p. 166] declares that ‘Idomen’ contains little that is fictitious except the names of the characters.
As an autobiography it has a pathetic interest, and taken in connection with the meagre account we have of her life, brings the personality of its author more clearly before us. Though written in the stilted phraseology of a bygone time, full of morbid sentimentality and forced situations, it is undoubtedly the heart-history of a Medford woman, ambitious, sensitive, denied the expression of that passionate love and self-sacrificing devotion which filled her soul.
As such it is worthy of our deepest sympathy and most reverent interest.1
1 Authorities and Bibliography.—The following authorities were consulted for the facts contained in this paper: ‘Harper's Magazine;’ ‘Southern Literary Messenger;’ Griswold's ‘Female Poets of America;’ Duyckinck's ‘Cyclopedia of American Literature;’ Medford town records; Boston Town Records; Medford church records; King's Chapel records; records of the Suffolk County Court; the Middlesex Probate and Registry of Deeds, East Cambridge; the Suffolk Probate and Registry of Deeds, Boston; Essex County Probate and Registry of Deeds, Salem; Charlestown records; Wyman's ‘Estates and Genealogies of Charlestown;’ Boston Town Directories from 1796 to 1823; the ‘Cutter Genealogy;’ ‘List of Graduates of West Point;’ and McCullum's ‘Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy.’
Judith, Esther, and other Poems. / By a Lover of the Fine Arts, / Boston: Cummings & Hilliard. / 1820. Zophiel. / A Poem. By Mrs. Brooks. / Boston. / Published by Richardson & Lord. / 1825. Zophiel; / or, / The Bride of Seven. / By / Maria del Occidente. / Boston, / Carter & Hendee, / 1833. This edition was published simultaneously in London, by C. and W. Reynolds, Printers, Broad street, Golden square. 1833. The second edition of the complete poem, ‘Zophiel,’ was published for the benefit of the Polish exiles, in Boston, 1834, by Hilliard, Gray & Co. Idomen; / or, / The Vale of Yumuri, / by Maria del Occidente. / New York. / Published by Samuel Colmer. / 1843. ‘Idomen.’ Clearly a thinly-veiled account of Mrs. Brooks' own life; but it is impossible to separate satisfactorily the purely fictitious from the autobiographical parts; but enough remains to confirm statements gathered from other sources. Perhaps the peculiarly sentimental phases of her character are brought out in greater prominence, if possible, than in her previous works.
Medford, MA. 1900.
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