Victorian Women Poets

General Editors:

Charlotte Brewer, Hertford College, Oxford
H. R. Woudhuysen, University College London
Daniel Karlin, University of Sheffield

Though traditionally neglected in nineteenth-century literary studies, Victorian women poets have been the subject of increasing attention and study in recent years. This annotated anthology offers a key selection of poems by thirteen such 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 poets 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 alike.

Virginia Blain is Professor of English at Macquarie University in Sydney.