Christina Rossetti (1830-1894) (Historical) Chapter 6 - Page 213

Christina Rossetti, born in London in 1830, was an English poet, remembered for her fantasy, religious, and children's poems. She is the sister of painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rosetti, member of the pre-Raphaelite movement. Rossetti published Goblin Market and Other Poems in 1862, which included perhaps her most well-recognized poem, "Goblin Market." 

In Virginia Woolf's novel Orlando, Christina Rossetti is included as evidence for a statement on Victorian literature: "...next, that it would be impolitic in the extreme to wrap a ten-pound note round the sugar tongs when Miss Christina Rossetti came to tea" (Woolf 213). Interestingly, Rossetti is not referenced for her poetry, but for an imagined visit. Because men dominated the literary canon, and still very much do, Christina Rossetti's work has been historically overlooked. Even Woolf mentions Rossetti's work, and women's work in general, far less than the big name poets like Tennyson, Donne, Browning, etc. It seems even Woolf felt that Rossetti's poetic impact may have been less significant than many other male Victorian poets.

Bryson, John. “Christina Rossetti.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., www.britannica.com/biography/Christina-Rossetti.

 

 

Associated Place(s)

Event date:

1830 to 1894

Parent Chronology: