Poems Between Women: Four Centuries of Love, Romantic Friendship, and Desire

Between Men-Between Women: Lesbian and Gay Studies

by Emma Donoghue (Editor)

With poems in English by over one hundred female poets -- American, English, Scottish, Canadian, South African, Indian, Irish, and Australian -- this is an extraordinary collection that pays homage to four centuries of women's desires, friendships, and expressions of love. The collection is testimony to the rich tradition of female verse and the timelessness of love and creativity.

Genres: Poetry, LGBT, Lesbian, Queer, Anthologies, Nonfiction, Feminism

256 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 1999

About the author

Grew up in Ireland, 20s in England doing a PhD in eighteenth-century literature, since then in Canada. Best known for my novel, film and play ROOM, also other contemporary and historical novels and short stories, non-fiction, theatre and middle-grade novels.

Reviews

[Beans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the concept if this anthology, but it turns out that I am wholly uninterested in pre-20th century poetry.

[Nic · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favourite of this collection was 'Private Theatricals', by Louise Guiney (1861-1920):

You were a haughty beauty, Polly
(That was in the play),
I was the lover melancholy
(That was in the play);
And when your fan and you receded,
And all my passion lay unheeded,
If still with tenderer words I pleaded,
They were in the play.

I met my rival in the gateway
(That was in the play),
And so we fought a duel straightaway
(That was in the play);
But when Jack hurt my arm unduly,
And you rushed over, softened newly,
And kissed me, Polly! truly, truly,
Was that in the play?

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exceptional collection. Despite my best efforts, I don't really enjoy older poetry, but it's absolutely invaluable to see something like this, where the collection reveals truths about women's lives over centuries. The chronological arrangement also shows changes in social norms and pressures. My enjoyment picks up dramatically at about 1890, but what a well arranged and selected collection.

[Adeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read these poems over and over. I love the timespan, the unique expressions of love, and the themes of secrecy and desire.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read poems I've already read in a new light, and I discovered poems that I never knew existed. This collection surprised me; I liked many, many of the poems (especially the ones that really do seem to be about friendship rather than "friendship").

[Michelle Hoogterp · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this. It's not that it wasn't interesting or good but it simply wasn't what I was looking for. I get weary pretty quickly of rhyme schemes, too.

[l · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never developed an appreciation for 17th-18th century poetry, and I doubt that will ever happen tbh.