This image is the cover for the book Goblin Market, The Prince's Progress, and Other Poems

Goblin Market, The Prince's Progress, and Other Poems

Before W.B. Yeats wrote of the mystical in his poetry, Christina Rossetti wrote Goblin Market, also the title poem within the collection Goblin Market, The Prince’s Progress and Other Poems. The title poem is about two sisters, and the lesson learned when one does not heed the warning to mingle with those at the Goblin Market. Rossetti’s collection blurred the lines between reality and imagination. Within this collection, Rossetti also has devotional poems, influenced by Rossetti’s religious background. The poem Sweet Death focuses on the church and the beauty between life and death. Christina Rossetti’s poetry reflects the Pre-Raphaelite Period in the arts, which was started by her brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti and a handful of poets and artists, a style and movement that featured romantic poetry, ekphrastic pieces, and intense imagery. Within Goblin Market, The Prince’s Progress and Other Poems includes a group of pastoral poems that capture and focus on the beauty of nature. For example The Lambs of Grasmere, 1860 feature the hardships of being a shepherd in 1860 and overcoming the potential loss of his herd. With beautiful imagery, Rossetti creates a sense of empathy with the reader and also gives a glimpse of her life and view of the world. This collection brings to life the mystical world with themes of religion, love, and mystical wonder which tie together the message and beauty of Christina Rossetti’s poetry. This edition contains a foreword by award-winning author Fran Wilde.

Fran Wilde, Christina Rossetti

Born in 1830, Christina Rossetti was a prolific poet. She was the youngest in her family. Christina had various works written about religion and fantasy. She also wrote towards the audience of children. During the 1850s, Christina wrote under the pseudonym Ellen Alleyne, which she contributed several poems to The Germ. The narrative poem Goblin Market is one of her more well know and popular works. She also had written two Christmas carols that were well known in Britain, “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “Love Came Down at Christmas.” Christina was devoted to her faith. The themes within her poetry drew in influence from the Pre-Raphaelite poetry and movement. Christina died in December of 1894.

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