Memoirs of William Wordsworth

A two-volume biography of the poet William Wordsworth, published in 1851 by his nephew, Christopher, later bishop of Lincoln.

Christopher Wordsworth (Author)

9781108075749, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 25 September 2014

538 pages, 1 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 3 cm, 0.68 kg

This two-volume biography of William Wordsworth (1770–1850) was published in 1851 by his nephew, Christopher (1807–85), a scholar who later became bishop of Lincoln. The introductory chapter argues against the presentation of a 'life', or a critical assessment of Wordsworth's works. The poet felt strongly that the life was in the works, and that they should 'plead their own cause before the tribune of Posterity'. Nevertheless, an elucidation of the facts of Wordsworth's life would - precisely because his poems are so personal - help the reader to understand his verse; and to be best understood, it should be studied chronologically, for which a 'biographical commentary' would be essential. Christopher Wordsworth, having agreed to undertake this task, describes in Volume 2 the family's move to Rydal Mount in 1811, and continues to 1850. An appendix provides documents on the history of the family.

32. Removal to Rydal
33. Opinions on certain questions of policy, domestic and foreign
34. Tour in Scotland
35. 'The Excursion'
36. 'The White Doe of Rylstone'
37. Laodamia
38. Letter to a friend of Burns
39. Peter Bell
40. Memorials of a tour on the Continent
41. Ecclesiastical sonnets
42. Tour in Holland, etc.
43. On the church of Rome
44. Poems written in 1826–31
45. On education
46. Personal history, 1819–30
47. Yarrow revisited, and other poems
48. Memorials of a tour in Scotland, etc.
49. Political apprehensions
50. Domestic history, 1833–7
51. Personal reminiscences, 1836
52. Memorials of a tour in Italy
53. Other poems in the same volume
54. Personal narrative
55. Personal history
56. Personal history, 1840, 1841
57. Personal history, 1841–3
58. Appointment to the laureateship
59. Personal history, 1843–5
60. Personal history, 1846
61. Personal history
62. Reminiscences
63. Reminiscences, miscellaneous memoranda
64. Conclusion
Appendix.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]