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Alfred H. Miles, ed. Women Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.

By Prefatory

THE PRESENTATION of the Women Poets of the Century in two volumes, in place of the one volume occupied by them in the first edition, has enabled the Editor to add to the representation of some, and to include others who had no place in the former edition—poets, much of whose work has been published since its issue: Christina Rossetti and Mrs. Radford are examples of the former, and the latter include Katharine Tynan Hinkson, Jane Barlow, Annie Matheson, Ada Bartrick Baker, Rosa Newmarch, and Cicely Fox-Smith. To these authors and their publishers the Editor’s thanks are gratefully tendered; to Messrs. William Blackwood & Sons, the publishers of Mrs. Baker’s “Palace of Dreams”; to Messrs. Lawrence & Bullen, the publishers of Mrs. Hinkson’s poems; to Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co., the publishers of “Ghost-Bereft,” by Jane Barlow; Mr. John Lane, publisher of “Songs to a Singer,” by Rosa Newmarch; and to Mr. Elkin Mathews, the publisher of “Horæ Amoris: Songs and Sonnets,” by Rosa Newmarch, and “Wings of the Morning,” by Cicely Fox-Smith.

That there are other women poets who are worthy of representation in this work, and who might have been included in this edition but for the arbitrary limits of space, must be admitted. The Editor’s desire, however, has been throughout to represent adequately those he felt bound to include, rather than give inadequate representation to a larger number, and it must be left to future editions to do justice to those whom present limits exclude.

Further references to women poets will be found in the appendix of this volume, and in the general appendix at the end of Vol. VII. “Poets and Poetry of the XIXth Century” (Bridges to Kipling): also in the volumes X., XI., and XII., devoted to humorous and sacred poetry. All are included in the general index at the end of Vol. XII. (Plumptre to Doudney).

A. H. M.

NOTE:—IN the prefatory note of the first edition of this work (1891) the Editor invited criticism with a view to the improvement of future editions. Several critics responded to this appeal, and their valuable suggestions have been considered in preparing this re-issue. In some cases the text has been revised and the selection varied; in others, additions have been made to complete the representation. The biographical and bibliographical matter has been brought up to date.