Christina Rossetti

This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the information in books and make it universally accessible. https://books.google.com ChristinaRossetti MackenzieBell,HellenaTeresaMurray,JohnParkerAnderson,AgnesMilne the g1ft of Fred Newton Scott l'hl'lll'l'l'llllftlill MMM1IIIH1I Il'l'l lulling TVr-K^vr^ lit 34-3 y s ( CHRISTINA ROSSETTI J" by thtie s-ajmis atjthoe. SPRING'S IMMORTALITY: AND OTHER POEMS. Th1rd Ed1t1on, completing 1,500 copies. Cloth gilt, 3J. W. The Athen-cum.— ' Has an unquestionable charm of its own.' The Da1ly News.— 'Throughout a model of finished workmanship.' The Bookman.—' His verse leaves on us the impression that we have been in company with a poet.' CHARLES WHITEHEAD : A FORGOTTEN GENIUS. A MONOGRAPH, WITH EXTRACTS FROM WHITEHEAD'S WORKS. New Ed1t1on. With an Appreciation of Whitehead by Mr, Hall Ca1ne. Cloth, 3*. f»d. The T1mes. — * It is grange how men with a true touch of genius in them can sink out of recognition ; and this occurs very rapidly sometimes, as in the case of Charles Whitehead. Several works by this wr1ter ought not to be allowed to drop out of English literature. Mr. Mackenzie Bell's sketch may consequently be welcomed for reviving the interest in Whitehead.' The Globe.—' His monograph is carefully, neatly, and sympathetically built up.' The Pall Mall Magaz1ne.—' Mr. Mackenzie Bell's fascinating monograph.' — Mr. /. ZangwiU. PICTURES OF TRAVEL: AND OTHER POEMS. Second Thousand. Cloth, gilt top, 3*. 6d. The Queen has been graciously pleased to accept a copy of this work, and has, through her Secretary, Sir Arthur Bigge, conveyed her thanks to the Author. The Publ1shers' C1rcular.— 'The rel1gious poems are unaffectedly noble in their simple, genuine faith, and will doubtless be widely appre ciated. From cover to cover the volume is genuine poetry, and some pieces mark Mr. Bell's highest achievement in the department of literature which he cultivates with so much success We heartily commend the volume to all lovers of poetry.' I— HEAD OF CHRISTINA ROSSETT1. {From the pencil drawing by Dante Gabriel Kossetti, 1 B■8. New in the Possession of Mr. Sydney Morse. Christina Rossetti A BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL STUDY BY MACKENZIE BELL AUTHOR OP 'SPRING'S IMMORTALITY, AND OTHER POEMS' ' CHARLES WHITEHEAD, A BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL MONOGRAPH ' AND ' PICTURES OF TRAVEL, AND OTHER POEMS ' WITH SIX PORTRAITS AND FIVE FACSIMILES fourth (fioitiort COMPLETING TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED LONDON THOMAS BURLEIGH 370 OXFORD STREET 1898 First Edition publislfd January 7, 1898 Second Edition published January 26, 1858 Third Edition published February 18, 1898 Fourth Edition published November 19, 1898 Copyright in the United States of America l»y L1ttle, Brown, & Co., Boston TO MY FRIEND WILLIAM MICHAEL ROSSETTI I DEDICATE A BOOK WHICH WITHOUT HIS UNCEASING KINDNESS AND DEEP INTEREST IN IT COULD HARDLY HAVE BEEN WRITTEN PREFACE The writing of this book has given me peculiar pleasure. But far greater than the pleasure of its com position has been that of considering the various aspects of Christina Rossetti's work, and of contemplating her character as revealed therein. Perhaps my study may serve to some readers as an introduction to the writings of Christina Rossetti both as a poet and as a prose writer. Remembering this I have for the most part relinquished the functions of a critic and assumed the easier functions of an exponent. Whatever are the shortcomings of my book — and none can feel these shortcomings more than myself — it may at least claim to be correct as to biographical fact, and further to be a useful guide to Christina Rossetti's volu minous writings, for it contains, in a series of chapters, a detailed analysis of all her books of poetry and prose. In these days of hurry and high pressure the work of a writer, however eminent, who, like Christina Rossetti, has produced no fewer than fourteen separate books (irrespective of the privately printed ' Verses ' of 1847, and of her ' New Poems ' and ' Maude.' both pub lished posthumously, in 1896 and 1897), almost neces sarily fails to command attention proportionate to its merit, if for no other reason than that readers do not Vlll CHRISTINA ROSSETTI allow themselves time to examine it thoroughly. In the case of Christina Rossetti there are reasons why such considerations should have especial weight. If, therefore, my volume be the means of increasing the knowledge of those whose acquaintance with her work is now imperfect, or of drawing the attention of readers for the first time to her depth of thought (the fruit of a rare experience), and to her beauty of expression (the fruit of a rare spiritual strength), one of its chief purposes will be gained. My task could hardly have been accomplished with out the unwearied sympathetic co-operation and un varying kindness of my friend, Mr. W1ll1am M1chael ROSSETTI, Christina Rossetti's literary executor ; and I take this the earliest opportunity of expressing my deep and abiding sense of gratitude to him. I have also to thank him warmly for having thrice read my study through with that care which he gives to every thing. I have availed myself freely of his written replies to my numerous inquiries as to many points in his sister's life, or concerning her opinions, about which I sought enlightenment from his fuller knowledge. Thus many autobiographical allusions, especially in ' Time Flies ' and ' The Face of the Deep,' have been made clear. Very often, to insure greater accuracy, I have quoted his actual words. At his suggestion I have, whenever occasion arose for mentioning the poet-painter, usually referred to Dante Gabriel Rossetti as Dante Gabriel. The biographical material has generally been used in order of date, though sometimes, when such a course seems more desirable, it has been arranged rather as to subject. Christina Rossetti rarely dated her letters fully. Indeed it is often by internal evidence alone that PREFACE IX the date can be inferred. Fortunately it has appeared unnecessary to follow the chronological order absolutely, though whenever such an order seemed to conduce to clearness, or to serve any other good purpose, it has been adopted when possible. Some of the letters included may be deemed by some readers too slight for publication ; my endeavour has been however not to exclude anything slight if it seems to possess personal or other interest or to have felicity of phrase. Her punctuation has been carefully preserved. I am indebted to Mr. Freder1c Sh1elds for much assistance, and I am under obligations to the late W1ll1am Morr1s, Mr. Theodore Watts-Dunton, Mr. Holman Hunt, the B1shop of Durham, Mr. Arthur Hughes, Mr. John R. Clayton, Dr. Charles J. Hare, the Rev. Dr. Grosart, Messrs. Macm1llan, Messrs. James Parker & Co., the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, Mrs. GEORGE Hake, Dr. R1chard Garnett, Mr. W1ll1am Sharp, the Rev. J. J. Glend1nn1ng Nash, the Rev. Alfred Gurney, Mr. Thomas Webster, Mr. John H. Ingram, Mr. Garrett Horder, Mr. Fa1rfax Murray, Mr. and Mrs. Patchett Mart1n, Mr. Sydney Morse, Mrs. Wr1ght, and others, to all of whom I tender my heartiest thanks. I am grateful also to Mr. JOHN P. Anderson of the British Museum for the exhaustive bibliography, appended to my volume, to which I have added some items. MACKENZIE BELL. London, January 1898. CONTENTS CHAPTER I BIOGRAPHICAL (Mainly 1830-1853) PACE The Rossetti family and environment— Christina's godmothers, Prin cess Christina Bonaparte (Lady Dudley Stuart), and Miss Georgina Macgregor — Poem by Gabriele Rossetti on his daughters — Child hood — Italian refugees — Holmer Green — Oil on troubled waters — Religious Training — Education -fc- Early characteristics and reading — Early verses — Christina joins drawing-class conducted by Ford Madox Brown — Early portraits — Sits for her brother's ■Girlhood of Mary Virgin ' — Sits for ' Ecce Ancilla Domini' — Mr. John R. Clayton — Sits to Mr. Holman Hunt for his ' Light of the World ' — Delicate health—' Maude,' a story — Dr. Hare — Affection for her grandfather — Christ Church, Albany Street — . 50 Charlotte Street — Family circumstances — Frome Selwood — Dr. Crellin — Sits to Ford Madox Brown — Sir William Jenner — First offer of marriage ........ I CHAPTER II biograph 1cal — continued (Mainly 1854-1876) Returns to London— Death of Gabriele Rossetti — Straitened circum stances — Miscellaneous writings — Literary income up to 1890 — Hastings — Newcastle-onTyne — Brookbank, Shottermill, Hasle- mere — Cheltenham — Second offer of marriage — Foreign travel — Switzerland — Italy — Dr. Gordon Hake — Rev. Dr. Littledale — Chalk drawing by Dante Gabriel, 1866 — Penkill Castle, Ayrshire — Removal to 56 Euston Square, now 5 Endsleigh Gardens — Seri ous illness — Meads, Eastbourne — Devotion to her family — Her Sister's ' Shadow of Dante ' — Her own papers on Dante — Dante's Lucifer and Milton's Satan contrasted — Her sister's influence upon her in religious matters — Her sister and Mr. John Ruskin . 32 Xll CHRISTINA ROSSETTI CHAPTER III b1ograph1cal — continued (Mainly 1874-1886) PACE Kelmscott Manor I louse — Removal to 30 Torrington Square — Cheync Walk — Bognor — Hunter's Forestall — Death of her sister Maria — Letters to her brothers — Walton-on-the-Naze — Mr. Frederic Shields — Discusses religious problems — Her opinion of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Adelaide Procter, and Anne Radcliffe — Autobiographical allusions 'Time Flies' — Memorial window to Dante Gabriel at Birchington, designed by Mr. Shields, and correspondence with Mr. Shields about it — Her suggestions for decoration of chapel at Eaton Hall — Interest in social questions — Correspondence with Mr. Shields respecting her mother's last illness and death — Mr. Watts-Dunton on her mother's influence on Christina, and Christina's influence on her elder brother 64 CHAPTER IV b1ograph1cal — continued (Mainly 1886-1893) Letters to Mrs. W. M. Rossetti — Correspondence with the Rev.

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