Legends and Lyrics: A Book of Verses

by Adelaide Anne Procter

1884. Poetess and Philanthropist, Proctor was the eldest daughter of poet Bryan Waller Procter (Barry Cornwall), who was a good friend of Charles Dickens. Nearly all of her poetry was in the first instance contributed to Household Words and All the Year Round and were then collected in this volume, Legends and Lyrics. Dickens has given a characteristic testimony to her worth. She was, he says, a friend who inspired the strongest attachments; she was a finely sympathetic woman with a great accordant heart and a sterling noble nature.

Genres: Poetry

Nook

First published January 1, 1858

Reviews

[Benedict Reid · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a slog. I would go for months at a time not opening the book. While sometimes the charming naive worldview of the author was beautiful, often the poems were simply saccharine and irritating. I think more than anything it made me aware of how disconnected from reality the rich Christians of Victorian England really were. The only thing that Adelaide get's exercised about is the treatment of the Irish Catholics, but even there she has an emphasis on the beauty and "goodness" of the noble poor. Without doubt, an attitude which prevents any momentum for political change (the only way that could have prevented the Irish famine).
Much of the poetry would be called doggerel, but at it's best it overcame it's simply rhyming schemes to present a unique image and worldview (which given I oppose the poet's worldview has to be acknowledged as a substantive achievement).