Selected Poems

by Anne Kingsmill Finch, Denys Thompson (Editor)

In this collection, a rare woman poet in a patriarchal age celebrates the quiet pleasures of a happy marriage, country life, friendship, and the qualities of a life lived.

Genres: Poetry

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Anne Finch (née Kingsmill), Countess of Winchilsea (April 1661 – 5 August 1720) was born in Sydmonton, Hampshire, the third child of Sir William Kingsmill of Sydmonton Court in Hampshire and his wife, Anne Haslewood. She was well educated as her family believed in good education for girls as well as for boys. In 1682, Anne Kingsmill went to St James's Palace to become a Maid of Honour to Mary of Modena (wife of James, Duke of York, who later became King James II.) There she met the courtier Heneage Finch whom she married on 15 May 1684. It was a happy marriage and Anne wrote several love poems to her husband, most famous perhaps A Letter to Dafnis, though her most well-known works speak on her bouts of depression and her fervent belief in social justice for women. Finch's works often express a desire for respect as a female poet, lamenting her difficult position as a woman in the literary establishment and the court, while writing of an intense artistic impulse to write despite the difficulties.

Reviews

[Nicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anne Finch isn't a poet I'd ever heard of, before my Introduction to Women's Poetry class. Her poetry is quite interesting: a woman writing in a period when women didn't generally write. It's also interesting how little known she is.

Her poetry seems quite conventional in form (rhyming, rhythm, etc), and even in theme (pastoral, religion...) but there's one obvious difference: it's from a woman's point of view in and on society.

I don't think I'm going to write my essay about her poetry, but it's interesting -- glad I picked up a copy of this.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anne Finch writes very eloquently about being a female writer and the problems that she faces. she also writes ironically and humorously in her poetry to make a point. disappointingly sometimes her poetry comes across as a little defeated and she didn't publish many of her poems

[mills !! · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved the night reverie so so so so so much truly gorgeous poetry that really captures a dreamlike Romantic state and just transcends to another little world. beautiful !