Aemilia Lanyer was an influential early modern poet, notable as the first English woman to publish a volume of religious verse. Her work, grounded in a humanist education and drawing on classical and biblical sources, showcases a powerful voice and imaginative rhetoric. Lanyer's poetry actively challenged contemporary gender norms and ideologies. Through her writings, she offered a distinctive perspective on the social and religious currents of her time from a female viewpoint.
Aemilia Lanyer's 1611 poem is far more than a retelling of The Passion. It comprises a spirited defense of Eve (and, by extension, all women), elegant praises for her female patrons, a catalogue of virtuous women of the ancient world, and closes with the first "country house" poem written by a woman in English.