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The Letters of William Wordsworth: A New Selection
The letters of William Wordsworth offer us a unique and vivid record of the personality and concerns of the poet, one which belies his image as a romantic dreamer obsessed with his own genius. We find, in the words of Alan G. Hill, "a Cumbrian whose feet were planted firmly on the ground of
his native region and whose shrewd common sense and broad human sympathies are reflected in everything he wrote."
Selected from the eight-volume definitive edition, the letters printed here can be read as a continuous narrative, taking us from his youthful enthusiasm for the French Revolution, through the idyllic years at Grasmere with his sister Dorothy, to his dignified old age at Rydal Mount. The subject
matter of the letters, and the correspondents themselves, are as varied as the poet's own interests and topics range from literature, art, religion, and politics, to the changing landscape of the Lakes, walks in the countryside, family affairs, and the troubles and triumphs of
friends and neighbors--literary figures such as Coleridge and De Quincy as well as people from many different walks of life whose names would otherwise be unknown to us but whom the poet favored with an equally deep and loyal friendship.
his native region and whose shrewd common sense and broad human sympathies are reflected in everything he wrote."
Selected from the eight-volume definitive edition, the letters printed here can be read as a continuous narrative, taking us from his youthful enthusiasm for the French Revolution, through the idyllic years at Grasmere with his sister Dorothy, to his dignified old age at Rydal Mount. The subject
matter of the letters, and the correspondents themselves, are as varied as the poet's own interests and topics range from literature, art, religion, and politics, to the changing landscape of the Lakes, walks in the countryside, family affairs, and the troubles and triumphs of
friends and neighbors--literary figures such as Coleridge and De Quincy as well as people from many different walks of life whose names would otherwise be unknown to us but whom the poet favored with an equally deep and loyal friendship.
323 pages, Paperback
First published June 13, 1985
8 people want to read
About the author
William Wordsworth
2,213 books1,384 followersWilliam Wordsworth (1770-1850) was a major English romantic poet who, with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, helped launch the Romantic Age in English literature with their 1798 joint publication, Lyrical Ballads.
Wordsworth's masterpiece is generally considered to be The Prelude, an autobiographical poem of his early years, which the poet revised and expanded a number of times. The work was posthumously titled and published, prior to which, it was generally known as the poem "to Coleridge". Wordsworth was England's Poet Laureate from 1843 until his death in 1850.
Wordsworth's masterpiece is generally considered to be The Prelude, an autobiographical poem of his early years, which the poet revised and expanded a number of times. The work was posthumously titled and published, prior to which, it was generally known as the poem "to Coleridge". Wordsworth was England's Poet Laureate from 1843 until his death in 1850.
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April 11, 2012
I have been reading this book for a little over a year, dipping into it every now and then. It's not quite what I expected; not flowery poetic language, but direct, courteous and very assertive. Even the apologies for tardy replies to correspondents are dealt with in a matter-of-fact manner, not arrogant, but not humble either. The letters are works of art in themselves and hopefully give us a glimpse of Wordsworth. For me, the most appealing element of these letters is the directness, it is really quite refreshing.
Displaying 1 of 1 review