'The mystery of Life, the mystery
Of Death, I see
Darkly as in a glass...'
Christina Rossetti (1830-94) is perhaps the most contradictory of the
great Victorian poets. She writes of the world's beauty, but fears that
it may be deceptive, even deadly. She is a religious poet, but much of
her work is driven by uncertainty. Her poems are restrained, even
secretive, but they seek nothing less than the mystery of Life and
Death.
This edition contains Rossetti's strongest and most distinctive work:
poetry (including 'Goblin Market', 'The Prince's Progress', and the
sonnet sequence 'Monna Innominata'), stories (including the complete
text of Maude), devotional prose (with nearly fifty entries from the
'reading diary' Times Flies), and personal letters. Those poems which
Rossetti published, and those which she withheld from publication, are
here brought together in chronological order, allowing the reader to
observe her poetic trajectory. This edition also records the major
revisions made by Rossetti when preparing her poems for publication. It
brings together the fullest range of Rossetti's poetry and prose in one
volume, and is an indispensable introduction to this entrancing
writer.
About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has
made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the
globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to
scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other
valuable features, including expert introductions by leading
authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date
bibliographies for further study, and much more.
