I wandered lonely as a Cloud
Daffodil or Celandine?
Wordsworth's famous poemI wandered lonely as a Cloud might be the most widely read in the English language, but daffodils were probably not his favourite flower. He wrote no less than three poems about the tiny Common Pilewort (Celandine) which blossoms in early spring.
Wordsworth's famous poemI wandered lonely as a Cloud might be the most widely read in the English language, but daffodils were probably not his favourite flower. He wrote no less than three poems about the tiny Common Pilewort (Celandine) which blossoms in early spring.
The Prelude
Wordsworth's magisterial autobiographical poem
Dating from 1798, this great poem was not published until after Wordsworth's death in 1850 and was given its name by his wife Mary. The first complete version dates from 1805 and the manuscript is on display in The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery.
Dating from 1798, this great poem was not published until after Wordsworth's death in 1850 and was given its name by his wife Mary. The first complete version dates from 1805 and the manuscript is on display in The Wordsworth Museum & Art Gallery.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Read Coleridge's poems here
Coleridge drank opium in the form of laudanum, which is diluted with wine or brandy. He relied on it and had used it since 1801 after an illness from which he never recovered. The drug was easily obtainable without prescription and a popular patent was known as ‘Kendal Black Drop'.
Coleridge drank opium in the form of laudanum, which is diluted with wine or brandy. He relied on it and had used it since 1801 after an illness from which he never recovered. The drug was easily obtainable without prescription and a popular patent was known as ‘Kendal Black Drop'.
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Supernatural events at sea - read the full poem here
The Ancient Mariner is one of the major poems in English to have the presence of two authors: the poets wanted to earn a quick £5 to pay the expenses of a walking tour: what was finally produced is a poem largely by Coleridge based on an idea by Wordsworth.
The Ancient Mariner is one of the major poems in English to have the presence of two authors: the poets wanted to earn a quick £5 to pay the expenses of a walking tour: what was finally produced is a poem largely by Coleridge based on an idea by Wordsworth.
