Dorothy Wordsworth's writings, comprising letters, diary entries, and short stories, reveal keen observational skills and a sensitive engagement with life. While often intertwined with the work of her brother, William, her prose offers a distinct literary contribution. Her profound intellectual influence was acknowledged as instrumental in shaping her brother's poetic development. Wordsworth's legacy lies in her authentic capture of the world and her quiet yet significant impact on the literary landscape of her era.
This collection focuses on republishing classic works from the early 1900s and earlier, which have become rare and costly. The editions are designed to be affordable while maintaining high quality, featuring the original text and artwork, ensuring that these timeless pieces remain accessible to modern readers.
These two journals provide a unique picture of daily life with Wordsworth, his friendship with Coleridge, and the composition of his poems. They also offer wonderfully vivid descriptions of the landscape and people of Grasmere and Alfoxden in Somerset, which inspired Wordsworth and have enchanted generations of readers. This edition includes full explanatory notes on the people and places Dorothy writes about.
A continuous text made up of extracts from Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal and a selection of her brother's poems. Dorothy Wordsworth kept her Journal 'because I shall give William pleasure by it'. In doing so, she never dreamt that she was giving future readers not only the chance to enjoy her fresh and sensitive delight in the beauties that surrounded her at Grasmere but also a rare opportunity to observe 'the progress of a poet's mind'.Colette Clark's skilful and perceptive arrangement of Dorothy's entries alongside William's poems throws a unique light on his creative process, and shows how the interdependence of brother and sister was a vital part in the writing of many of his great poems. By reading these poems in relation to the Journal it is possible to trace the processes by which they were committed to paper and so achieve a fuller understanding of them.A writer in her own right, Dorothy kept her Journal sparse in personal and emotional detail. Yet there is, nevertheless, a deep emotional undercurrent running beneath the surface which only falters when William marries Mary Hutchinson. Never again was Dorothy to achieve the freedom, spontaneity and the limpidly beautiful prose with which she infused and irradiated the Grasmere Journals.
This unique collection of letters offers an intimate glimpse into the lives and minds of the Wordsworth family, one of the most celebrated literary families of the Romantic era. Edited by William Knight and featuring letters from William, Dorothy, and other family members, this volume is an invaluable resource for scholars and fans of English literature alike.