Legends and Lyrics Part 1

by Adelaide Anne Procter

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: Poetry

266 pages, Kindle Edition

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).