In this rare signed copy of his published letter about a forthcoming book on Robert Burns (1759–1796), Wordsworth discusses his feelings on how writers should be remembered. This meditation shows Wordsworth’s compassionate nature and also his own desire to be remembered for years to come. However, he doesn’t believe that poets should have their privacy compromised by tell-all biographies. In Wordsworth’s opinion, a poet’s work should be enough to carry him or her through the ages.
Contributed by Alexandra Kennington