George Long Duyckinck (17 October 1823-30 March 1863), seven years younger than his brother, Evert, was born in New York City where he resided his entire life. He is important to literary historians for some of the very reasons his brother Evert Duyckinck is, although George Duyckinck's role was secondary in the editing of the Literary World (1843-1853) and the compiling of the Cyclopaedia of American Literature (1855). Even though he witnessed and shared with his brother some important connections with literati such as Melville, the written record he left is not as rich as that of Evert Duyckinck. Because of this and his secondary role in their two major collaborative efforts in literature, Duyckinck's name seems destined to rest forever in the shadow of his older brother.

During childhood he shared in a culturally rich and stimulating household. The second and last child born to Evert Duyckinck and Harriet June...