Christina Rossetti: Over 100 selected poems

by Christina Rosetti, Pele Cox

Genres: Poetry

160 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 16, 2027

Reviews

[Reading Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Christina Rossetti. She writes with such beauty and with a reality that you want to touch. She is my favorite.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

“While her near contemporary Elizabeth Barrett Browning lived a restlessly transformative life, Christina Rossetti’s was remarkable for its stillness.” First off, if my biography began with such a focus on another artist, I’d haunt the culprit’s keyboard for evermore.

A decent introduction to Rossetti’s poetry. The autobiography sections were informative, with what feels like a solid exploration of her drivers and motivations. Her contradictions when it came to women’s suffrage are especially interesting (contradictions seem to define much of Rossetti’s work, in my view).

In terms of other editorial choices, I wish the Italian sections of Monna Innominata had English translations alongside them: however, I will bow to those more knowledgable, as it seems lack of translation is the standard practice. The analysis sections were fairly solid and provided good historical context.

As for the poetry itself: Goblin Market is one of the first pieces of poetry that I remember being truly transfixed by, and nothing has changed there. I’m baffled by the decision to include only a 3-page excerpt. It loses so much of its power without the moral struggle, extended allegory, the sister’s bond, etc. Hope this might be reconsidered in the final version!

Unfortunately, the rest of the collection is mixed. ‘Remember’ is wonderfully evocative in its transcendental devotion, while An End’ and ‘Twice’ are sweet and sad. ‘Last Night’ is bittersweet, the things left unsaid achingly so.

Of course, poetry is subjective, but I find it hard to believe so many of the shorter pieces (‘I wish I could remember that first day’) are written by the same person who gifted us Goblin Market; they are so flat, almost twee in their simplicity. I found myself much more interested in the melancholy, almost bitter, undertone that suffused so much of the religious poems. Maybe I’ll seek out a biography?

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Gemini Books for the eARC.

[Em Hathaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something enduring about returning to Christina Rossetti—like stepping into a garden where every path leads somewhere tender, strange, or unexpectedly sharp.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gemini Books Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This collection feels thoughtfully curated, offering both an accessible entry point for new readers and a broader appreciation for those already familiar with Rossetti’s work. The inclusion of commentary and contextual notes adds depth, helping to illuminate her themes, influences, and the emotional threads woven through her poetry.

Rossetti’s voice moves between devotion, longing, nature, and restraint with a kind of understated intensity. There’s a delicacy to her work, but also something more unyielding beneath it—moments where emotion presses just below the surface.

My personal highlights were A Summer Wish, which felt soft and wistful in the loveliest way, and Goblin Market, which remains vivid and compelling. I only wish the full poem had been included, as even in excerpt it completely commands your attention.

While not every poem resonated equally for me, the collection as a whole feels cohesive, accessible, and beautifully presented, particularly for readers looking to explore Rossetti beyond her most well-known works.

A thoughtful and inviting collection, best read slowly, one poem at a time, allowing each to settle before turning the page.

[Ifa Inziati · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to Christina Rossetti. It includes a brief biography as the preface and critiques to explain some poems, particularly the longer ones. I am new to Victorian poems so reading this enriches my reading experience. I usually read modern poetry, and I can sense modernity in some of her works especially Goblin Market. It might be my favorite too; the imagery is vivid and I had fun reading it out loud.

My favorite section is Nature & Beauty. I like nature-based poetry that's rich in description, and Rossetti utilized so many of it. Themes of seasons, weather, nighttime, and cottage garden are tied up with her experience as told in the preface. She also had a unique perspective on love. I really enjoyed No, Thank You, John and I think that one is what I can most relate to. Another aspects of her life that are reflected on her writings are spirituality and view on death, and honestly those are the hardest ones to read. But I really appreciated the craft and creativity.

I can see why her poems are revolutionary and they are indeed a beauty that transcends time. Even though I'm still trying to grasp some of her works due to my limited knowledge of poetry (regardless of how informative this book is), it doesn't hinder me from appreciating and enjoying the poems. Thank you Gemini Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review; thanks to NetGalley, Gemini Books Group, and Gemini Books for the early access to the ebook. Pub date: Oct 13, 2026.

I wasn’t familiar with Christina Rossetti’s poetry, but when I saw this “read now“ on NetGalley, I was intrigued. Overall, I really enjoyed it.

This edition was a great way to get introduced to her poems because, first of all, the introduction provides great context into who she was, second of all, the poems are organized in categories, and, third of all, this includes commentary/analysis for some of the poems, and that provides even more context on Rossetti’s personal perspective as well as historical, cultural, and social context, which helps the reader understand/appreciate the specific poem being analyzed and all the other poems within the category even more.

I didn’t love all of her poems, but I could appreciate her skill.

For some of the poems, we only get extracts because they’re super long, but I would’ve liked to get the full Goblin Market poem instead of being told what happens in the commentary/analysis of it. Other than that, I think this edition does a great job of introducing Rossetti to new audiences and bringing attention to her work overall.

3.5 stars.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Received from NetGalley

I have been a long time lover of Rossetti's "Goblin Market," but hadn't ever read her other poems. While there are poems in this collection that I really liked, none of them stood out quite like "Goblin Market" and I was disappointed to find only an excerpt in this collection.
I really appreciated the historical information about Rossetti and the commentary on some of her poems that were included in this collection. Both made me understand her as a poet a bit more and the context in which she wrote. The collection being broken up into four different themes helped guide me through the many poems and understand the common elements in her work.
I enjoy Rossetti's nature poetry much more than her spiritual poetry, so I did find it hard to get through the section on spirituality and religion. The poems I most enjoyed were: "If There Be Any One Can Take My Place", "No Thank You John", "Echo When I am Dead, My Dearest", and "The Caterpillar"; and of course "Goblin Market", but I wish the whole poem could have been included.
Overall, a great read for lovers of classic poetry or poetry in general but not my favorite collection.

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice collection of Rosetti’s poetry, divided in chapters of love, religion, nature and death. There is an analysis of one poem per section, with a short biography at the start. There are no illustrations other than one picture of her.

I always thought I liked Rosetti’s poetry but if this were my first exposure to her I’m not sure I would have. I especially enjoy her nature and children’s poems, and this had more focus on her rather bitter and immature relationship poems and her religious poems. The book tells us that she considered herself too devout to marry the men who proposed to her, yet she wrote poems complaining of men wooing other women and of her sister interfering with a relationship. Some poems were so melodramatic and salty they were humorous, though I’m sure that wasn’t the intention.

All in all, this is a well organized, accessible compilation, which gives new insight into Rosetti.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.

[A Pixie Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christina Rossetti: Over 100 Selected Poems is a richly assembled collection that offers both familiarity and discovery. Having previously only encountered Goblin Market (I've always loved my faerie books, and also that one episode of Dr Who), I found it a pleasure to explore a wider selection of Rossetti’s work, including an extract of Goblin Market (though it was a shame it wasn't the full poem that was included)

The introductory material is particularly effective, providing a clear and engaging overview of Rossetti’s life, influences, and literary importance. Rather than feeling like a separate addition, this context enhances the poetry itself, offering insight into how her personal experiences may have shaped the themes and emotions within her writing which was great.
The critical commentary throughout adds another layer of interest - the analysis is thoughtful and encourages deeper reflection, making the reading experience more interactive and engaging.

Overall, this is an enjoyable and well-presented collection. With its blend of carefully chosen poems, insightful commentary, and biographical context, it offers a rewarding and cohesive introduction to Rossetti’s work.

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first exposure to Christina Rosetti was her pancake poem all the way back in kindergarten, and honestly until I saw the cover of this book I had completely forgotten about this memory. When the name felt familiar, I decided I wanted to dive more into her poetry as there's definitely got to be more to one of the most well known female poets than just pancakes.

Happily, I can say that there is much more depth to her work and I truly enjoyed this collection of poetry. I loved the diversity of themes and moods in this collection, assuring that you'll find one to enjoy no matter what mood you're currently in.

For those wanting to enjoy more poetry and get more in touch with historical works, I highly recommend this collection.

I received an eARC of this book via Gemini Books Group and NetGalley. Christina Rosetti releases on October 13, 2026, or you can request an eARC on NetGalley! This is my honest, voluntary review 🖤

[Jo Fryer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christina Rossetti has been my favourite poet since I stumbled across her poem A Birthday on the morning after my then boyfriend proclaimed his undying love for me. It celebrates love in the most lyrical, mystical and magical way. So I voraciously searched out more of her work and have held a special place for her in my heart ever since.

What this little book does, to the best of the author’s understanding, is give a back story and assist the reader into an understanding of what may have inspired her poetry. I liked the way the author offered suggestions rather than making statements like others would.

I really enjoyed this little foray into her beautiful poems again. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys poetry and anyone who wants a glimpse into a Victorian woman’s heart, family and spirituality.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gemini Books Group for the arc.

[Magen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic collection! Before this I'd only read 'Goblin Market' by Christina Rossetti and vaguely knew she'd written 'In the Deep Midwinter'. I can now say after reading this she's skyrocketed to being in my top favorite poets. I truly loved this collection of her work and brief insight into her life. In no particular order, my favorite poems by her (from this collection) are: Amor Mundi, Crying My Little One, A Daughter of Eve, What Would I Give, Rest, and Conference between Christ, the Saints and the Soul. I will be owning a physical copy and I look forward to more of these Women in Poetry collections!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gemini Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC

I appreciated the introduction of the author, which provides helpful context about Rossetti’s life, influences, and literary significance. Rather than feeling separate from the poetry, this background deepens the reading experience and allows the reader to better understand the emotional and thematic layers within her work.

Overall, this collection succeeds in presenting Rossetti’s poetry in a way that is both informative and enjoyable. The combination of insightful critique and well-chosen poems creates a cohesive and rewarding reading experience.

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christina Rossetti
By Christina Rossetti & Pele Cox
Format: eARC
Rating: 4/5⭐️

I haven’t read any Christina Rossetti since I was in undergrad and got my English degree; I’d forgotten how much I like her writing. I’m also surprised by how many of these I remember reading. Like, so many.

This was an excellent, abbreviated primer and reintroduction to her work; I highlighted so many stanzas. This is exactly what I needed.

Thank you to Gemini Gift Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Rachel N · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really nice collection of over 100 of Rosetti’s poems with background on her life and times as context for the poems, plus a more indepth critique of a few. It’s a lovely introduction to her work, especially for those new to it, and the critiques are useful both in themselves and as a guide in how to read poetry.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

[Lu's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC!
This book was a delightful introduction to Christina Rossetti's poetry and to bits of her life. It was my first time diving into her poetry and I loved it so much. I think the division of poems according to theme was very well done. It made me understand them deeply and also try and feel what Rossetti intended for the reader to feel.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know Rossetti best from her poem The Goblin Market, and her brother Dante Rossetti, the pre-Raphaelite painter. I think that while this was laid out in nice sections and I enjoyed the critiques, I don't know that this was the best representation of her work and wouldn't be a great jumping off point for people unfamiliar with her.

e-arc provided by Netgalley ❤️

[Laurel Zeisler · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover was very pretty, and I expected there to be illustrations inside the book. I like how the poems were arranged by chapters. That made them easier to follow. As a person who struggles with poetry, I found the critique sections helpful in explaining some of them. Very comprehensive book that poetry lovers should buy.

[Val ── .✦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the poems in this book. The design makes for an easy read, and the cover is so lovely! I really liked how it was divided into sections and included extra information about the verses. I would have loved to see some illustrations inside, but it's a gorgeous book regardless!

Thanks so much to Gemini Books Group and NetGalley for this eARC.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like poetry and have enjoyed Christina Rossetti poems before but I don’t think this is the best collection of her poetry that I, personally, have read.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

[★ molly ★]

e-arc received

[Mallory Nygard · Rating 4 out of 5]

great reading for Holy Week

[Flavio Miguel Pereira · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice colection of poems, not the best but Christina Rossetti is shown a very nice writer soul.
Difficult to copilate but very nice to read

[Aléxia · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review; thanks to NetGalley, Gemini Books Group, and Gemini Books for the early access to the ebook. Pub date: Oct 13, 2026.

As someone who wasn’t familiar with the poet’s work, I think this collection did an excellent job of helping us get to know the author — her sense of humour, her interests, and even her disinterests (poor John, my favourite poem of all!). The book’s design, along with the texts that explain certain choices and motifs and provide background for what we are reading, was brilliant, especially for lovers of writing and poetry who haven’t studied linguistics and might otherwise feel lost at certain moments.

I’d also like to praise the cover, which has an old-fashioned touch within a modern, trendy design — the very reason I picked up the book in the first place. As I always say, anyone who claims “you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover” is someone who doesn’t read!

[Jaidee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 "a good enough introduction and collection" stars !!

Thank you to Gemini books, our deceased poet and the collector/commenter and Netgalley for an ecopy. This will be released October 2026. I am providing an honest review.

Christina Rosetti (1830-1894) an English poet of Italian descent is one of 19th century's most respected and studied female poets. Ever since reading her poem on colors (perfect for wee ones) I have wanted to read some more of her (a few I was even familiar with).

This is a collection of 100 plus of her poems (some are excerpts) with a serviceable introduction and some brief commentary. The introduction provided some mildly helpful context of her life and some theories. I found some of the commentary on individual poems rather high school freshman teacher quality but readable nonetheless. I often partially disagreed as well.

The poetry itself was mixed to good for me. The collector divided it into logical subsections including love, religious, nature and one with a focus on death and the afterlife. Overall my impression was of a middle class woman who dealt with physical illness, love disappointments and feeling very constrained by her gender. Often the poetry felt overly repressed, repetitive with a degree of anger behind the piety. Anyhow I was happy to partake but not so interested in delving deeper into this poet's work but would be interested in learning more about her life perhaps by way of some historical fiction....

Here is one of my favorite poems in collection:

Confluents

As rivers seek the sea,
Much more deep than they,
So my soul seeks thee
Far away:
As running rivers moan
On their course alone
So I moan
Left alone.

As the delicate rose
To the sun's sweet strength
Doth herself unclose,
Breadth and length:
So spreads my heart to thee
Unveiled utterly,
I to thee
Utterly.

As morning dew exhales
Sunwards pure and free,
So my spirit fails
After thee:
As dew leaves not a trace
On the green earth's face;
I, no trace
On thy face.

Its goal the river knows,
Dewdrops find a way,
Sunlight cheers the rose
In her day:
Shall I, lone sorrow past,
Find thee at the last?
Sorrow past,
Thee at last?