The Letters of Dorothy Wordsworth: A Selection

by Dorothy Wordsworth, Alan G. Hill (Editor)

"I should detest," wrote Dorothy Wordsworth, "the idea of setting myself up as an author." Protesting to Lady Beaumont she explained "I have not the powers which Coleridge thinks I have--I know it." Despite her self-deprecatory words, however, the reader of Dorothy Wordsworth's letters will discover a skill with language and a power of description that rivals even the poetry of her more famous brother.
In this selection, Alan G. Hill offers seventy complete letters that together provide a fascinating portrait of the writer and her surroundings. Spontaneous, intimate, and lively, they constitute a life of Dorothy Wordsworth in her own words, following her from youth to the onset of her last tragic illness. In between, we meet a remarkable group of people, for no other observer was so close to Wordsworth, Coleridge, and their circle, shared so completely their feelings and aims, and had such an eye for the landscape that inspired them. To have brought them so vividly before our eyes is surely one of Dorothy Wordsworth's greatest and most enduring achievements.

Genres: Biography

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

Dorothy Mae Ann Wordsworth was an English poet and diarist. She was the sister of the Romantic poet William Wordsworth, and the two were close for all of their lives. Dorothy Wordsworth did not set out to be an author, and her writings comprise a series of letters, diary entries, and short stories.

She also edited much of William’s work. She was one of two people he attributed to the development of his intellect. Without her he would never have achieved such poetic heights.

Reviews

[Janet Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of letters buy a highly intelligent, thoughtful woman. Hard to believe that they were written over two hundred years ago. Interesting to see the people Dorothy mixed with, how much travelling she did, both in Britain and Europe, and how daily life was for her. Sad in parts but, overall, uplifting. I'm now inspired to read her journals.

[Fin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly every time I read the letters or diaries of a writer from the eighteenth century the main thing I end up thinking about is class. How tf did Wordsworth and co literally just spend their lives swanning around the countryside, renting the first house they come across whether mansion or cottage. Anyway loved every time Coleridge or De Quincey appears - 2 profoundly weird dudes.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find this book hard to rate. On one hand it is Dorothy Wordsworth's letters, I find her fascinating, will read the phone book if she is involved, so 5 stars; but on the other hand, my enjoyment did fade at times, so 2 stars. Then I thought, wait, this is a SELECTION that is EDITED by Alan G Hill, so this is how I'm reviewing it.

I did enjoy this collection, HOWEVER, if you are not already firmly down the Wordsworth rabbit-hole than you may not be able to tolerate these letters. Blimey, Dorothy wrote long, detailed letters!! I realise that it was the only way of communicating back then, so in a way these were fashionable, but Dorothy's border on monologues. This is the only example of her letters I have seen, but I'm going to assume they are in the majority this lengthy all the time. If you are not border-line obsessed with the Wordsworth's then I imagine the minute, dull sounding details Dorothy talks of would make you give up. All the references to people we are supposed to know!! There needs to be a list of people mentioned, not just the list of correspondents at the start of the book. It is also rather irritating how Dorothy does not use the concept of paragraphs properly. Her sentence structure seems over-blown too and particularly wordy. She doesn't seem to be a "less is more" type of woman!

What does come across in this selection (and I don't know if it is the choice of letters or just the way Dorothy was) is a rather snobby, aristocratic tone, which doesn't seem to match up with the way she lived her life (the type of house, the area they chose to settle in). It did make me think differently about the Wordsworth's choice of area and accommodation, why they made the choices they did. I was disappointed that these letters did not really offer any further insight into Dorothy's personality. She comes across as kind yet harsh, funny yet pompous.

The most interesting letter I thought was to Mrs Clarkson on May 12th 1811 when Dorothy recounts why Coleridge is angry with William, and she defends her brother, but yet is not rude about Coleridge. She obviously cared very deeply about Coleridge. She did not take sides over the argument and she continued to be concerned for Coleridge's welfare.

The last letter I found to be a very good poignant ending as it shows Dorothy's demise in older age.

I am still left with the question of does this selection do Dorothy Wordsworth justice?
No, I don't believe it does. She is far come complex and interesting than these letters give her credit for.