William Wordsworth: A Life

I know this week is recommendation week, and although I don't know that I'm exactly recommending this book to anyone, I want to write about it on our blog.

William Wordsworth: A Life by Stephen Gill

As many of you have heard me gripe about this book (I even had to ask Adam to incentivize--that's a real word and not a Dr. Seussism--me to read the book), you may have assumed that I had a tough time reading it and never wanted to. And you would be right--certainly in the first 50 or so pages. Any book that you notice has almost 100 pages of Notes in the end is certainly a daunting task to embark upon.

However, I became totally engrossed in the world of the Romantic poets. I silently loathed those critics of Wordsworth's "The Excursion," I rejoiced at his joyous family life, and my heart ached as Dorothy, his sister, fell into the stages of dementia. I felt at one with the book and the poet that I am about to go spend 3 months of my life studying. I absolutely adored learning about him. I LOVED this book.

I don't know that I recommend this book to any of you, because 423 pages that go in depth, and I mean IN DEPTH, about the Father of Romantic Poetry may only be interesting to me. But if you're in the mood, then I definitely won't stop you. :)

I've never taken so long to read a book--about 10 hours for 423 pages--but to be honest, I've also never been more proud when reporting that I have read a book.

"Life is divided into three terms - that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present, to live better in the future." --William Wordsworth

And just for kicks, here is Dove Cottage--the place where I will be working, and the place where Wordsworth published some of his most famous poetry.