Joy and despair, rapture and dread are frequently found in the intense self-expression of the Romantic poets. Embracing emotion, wonder and originality rather than the wit and restraint of poets from earlier in the eighteenth century, the Romantic poets brought about a profound transformation in artistic styles.  In a period from around 1780 to 1850 these poets demonstrated a fascination with nature and the individual, imagination and the human heart.

This showcase features many much loved poems by the famous names of the period. You will find Wordsworth’s ‘Daffodils’, Blake’s ‘The Sick Rose’ and Keats’ ‘Ode To Autumn’ but we hope you will revel in discovering less well known poems too like Mary Robinson’s mysterious ‘The Haunted Beach’, Charlotte Smith’s powerful and unsettling ‘On Being Cautioned’, and John Clare’s visionary examination of his place in the world. As you browse you will discover desires and dreams sitting alongside acutely observed everyday realities. Enjoy!