Ah, Wordsworth and Coleridge. Arguably two of the most important pillars of the first generation of Romantic poets.

Wordsworth, famed for his detailing of the simplistic, rustic pleasantries of nature through eloquent verses. Coleridge, renowned for his hypnotic, lushly lyrical poetry that encapsulates the profundity of the supernatural and the unknown.

As the book strives the show, their friendship spanned decades. Punctuated by personal conflicts, poetic disagreements and changing priorities. As well as changing personalities.

Sisman details the transformations that each man undertook as the years wore on. Wordsworth appearing to become more cold and egotistical to the ones who once admired him, as well as becoming more politically conservative where once the fire of revolution burned. Coleridge deteriorating into a shell of his former genius. Leaving behind a cowardly, selfish and procrastinating addict, reliant on the charity of his friends.

This biography takes you through the different stages of Wordsworth and Coleridge’s acquaintanceship.

From strangers to old but, sadly, distant friends. From their initially intellectually and poetically stimulating collaboration to the unfortunate (but inevitable) deterioration of their partnership.

This book is perfect for even the most half-hearted enjoyer of poetry or the Romantics. At 480 pages of history to digest, this is more than a crash-course into the partnership of these two Romantic giants. It’s more of an in depth look at the lives and times of the two poets.

Exploring the revolutionary climate that fueled their earlier works and the development (or in Coleridge’s case, deterioration) of their works. And above all, the friendship that shaped the majority of both of their lives, for better or for worse.

Essentially, it’s a lot of info. However, if you are as invested as I was in a lengthy biography of an equally lengthy (and oftentimes turbulent) friendship as that of the renowned Romantics William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, I would sincerely recommend you put this book on your Christmas list!

 

 

Written by Niamh Bennett