William Wordsworth, arguably the best-loved poet of the Romantic period, is perhaps most famous for poems such as “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud,” “Ode: Intimations of Immortality,” and “Tintern Abbey.” But did you know that Wordsworth wrote not only poetry, but prose as well? This exhibit showcases some of Wordsworth’s prose works, including political pamphlets, manuscripts, letters, travel guides, and essays. These items reflect particularly interesting aspects of Wordsworth’s writing and publishing sensibilities, such as the fact that he did not always want his writing published, and that sometimes he published anonymously. Although the items included in this exhibit vary in topic and theme, each one helps to paint a picture of Wordsworth not only as a famous Romantic poet, but also as a mountaineer, political activist, philosopher, and literary scholar. These works are a must-read for any Wordsworth enthusiast.
This display case assembled by Benjamin Denton, Kori Dryer, and Sarah Safsten.