Victorian Women Poets, An Annotated Anthology

by Virginia Blain

Longman Annotated TextsGeneral Brewer, Hertford College, OxfordH.R. Woudhuysen, University College LondonDaniel Karlin, University College LondonAttention in nineteenth-century literary studies has traditionally been on the works of male writers. This book helps to redress this balance by providing an annotated anthology of Victorian women poets. It offers a key selection of poems by 13 Victorian women poets from Felicia Hemans (whose traditional influence reigned long after her death in 1835) to the witty, iconoclastic May Kendall, who lived until 1943.The book starts with a substantial general Introduction which places the work of the poets into a context both historical (that of the poems' production) and modern (that of their past and present reception). Each poet's work is introduced by an expansive headnote which tells the story of her life and writing career. The poems all have full explanatory notes to help readers unfamiliar with the period. A Bibliography lists general sources as well as useful further readings. Written in an engaging and accessible manner, the extensive annotations throughout Victorian Women Poets ensure that this fascinating poetry is enjoyable for undergraduate and non-specialist readers.Virginia Blain is a Professorial Fellow in the English Department at Macquarie University in Sydney.

Genres: Poetry

382 pages, Paperback

First published December 7, 2000