Book description
Whitney's two volumes of verse miscellany, 'Sweet Nosegay' (1573) and
'The Copy of a Letter' (1567), were part of a literary trend of
combining classical and Biblical references with popular and vernacular
sources, and reflect the growing literary appetites of the urban
population. As well a selection of her original poetry, this volume
includes Sidney's version of the Psalms of David and Petrach's 'Triumph
of Death'. Lanyer's poetry is devotional and is the most single-minded
and explicit inits advocacy of female spirituality and virtue. Included
here are 'Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum' and 'The Description of Cooke-ham'.
Born into the Cheshire gentry, Isabella Whitney (c. 1550-?) went into
service in London and published two volumes of poetry.
Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke (1561-1621) worked in close
literary collaboration with her brother, Sir Philip Sidney, and
continued to write after his death.
Aemelia Lanyer (1569-1645), a devotional poet, was raised in the
Countess of Kent's household and married an Italian musician.
Danielle Clarke is a lecturer in English at University College, Dublin.
