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The Prose Works of William Wordsworth

by William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

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  • 32 hours to read
  • 64 chapters
  • Reading level: 8th & 9th grade

"The Prose Works of William Wordsworth" by William Wordsworth is a collection of the author's previously unpublished writings, compiled and edited by Alexander B. Grosart, and published in the late 19th century. This collection focuses on Wordsworth's thoughts on political and ethical matters, emphasizing his reflections on the French Revolution and his perspectives on various social issues. Overall, the collection aims to shed light on the intellectual and societal contributions of Wordsworth beyond his poetry. At the start of this collection, Grosart presents a dedication to Queen Victoria and outlines the significance of Wordsworth's prose, which has been relatively overlooked despite its importance. The preface reviews the author's intentions behind publishing this work, discussing various essays that explore political themes, including his "Apology for the French Revolution." This letter responds critically to contemporary views on monarchy and reveals Wordsworth's republican principles, illustrating his support for liberty and justice while critiquing the inequality fostered by hereditary titles and the arbitrariness of governance. Through this introduction, readers are invited to appreciate the depth and relevance of Wordsworth's prose in understanding his comprehensive view of human society.

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  • English literature · 19th century

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I. Political: (a) Apology for the French Revolution, 1793

This is from the Author's own MS., and is published for the first time. Every reader of 'The Recluse' and 'The Excursion' and the 'Lines on the French Revolution, as it appeared to Enthusiasts at its Commencement'—to specify only these—is aware that, in common with SOUTHEY and the greater COLERIDGE, WORDSWORTH was in sympathy with the uprising of France against its tyrants. But it is only now that we are admitted to a full discovery of his youthful convictions and emotion by the publication of this Manuscript, carefully preserved by him, but never given to the world. The title on the fly-leaf—'Apology,' &c., being ours—in the Author's own handwriting, is as follows:

It is nowhere dated, but inasmuch as Bishop WATSON'S Sermon, with the Appendix, appeared early in 1793, to that year certainly belongs the composition of the 'Letter.' The title-page of the Sermon and Appendix may be here given;

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Contents

Show all 64 chapters
  1. Front Matter
  2. Preface
  3. I. Political: (a) Apology for the French Revolution, 1793
  4. II. Ethical
  5. III. Of Education: (a) On the Education of the Young: Letter to a Friend, 1806
  6. II. Upon Epitaphs
  7. III. Essays, Letters, and Notes Elucidatory and Confirmatory of the: Poems, 1798-1835
  8. IV. Descriptive: (a) A Guide through the District of the Lakes, 1835
  9. I. Apology for the French Revolution. 1793
  10. II. The Convention of Cintra: 1809
  11. Appendix
  12. Postscript
  13. III. Vindication of Opinions in the Treatise on the 'Convention of: Cintra:'
  14. IV. Two Addresses to the Freeholders of Westmoreland: 1818
  15. V. Of the Catholic Relief Bill, 1829
  16. I. Of Legislation for the Poor, the Working Classes, and the Clergy: Appendix to Poems
  17. II. Advice to the Young: (A) Letter to the Editor of 'the Friend,' Signed 'Mathetes.'
  18. III. Of Education: (A) on the Education of the Young: Letter to a Friend, 1806
  19. I. Political: I. Apology for the French Revolution
  20. II. Ethical: I. Of Legislation for the Poor
  21. I. Of Literary Biography and Monuments: (A) a Letter to a Friend of Robert Burns, 1816
  22. II. Upon Epitaphs: (A) from 'the Friend.'
  23. III. Essays, Letters, and Notes Elucidatory and Confirmatory of the Poems: 1798-1835
  24. IV. Descriptive: (A) a Guide Through the District of the Lakes
  25. IV. Descriptive: (a) A Guide through the District of the Lakes
  26. I. Notes and Illustrations of the Poems, Incorporating: (a) The Notes: originally added to the first and successive editions. pp. 1-216 (b) The whole of the I.F. Mss
  27. Part II
  28. Part III
  29. Part III
  30. II. Letters and Extracts from Letters
  31. III. Conversations and Personal Reminiscences of Wordsworth
  32. I. Notes and Illustrations of the Poems, Incorporating
  33. I. Poems Written in Youth
  34. II. Poems Referring to the Period of Childhood: 27. *My Heart leaps up when I behold. [I.]
  35. III. Poems Founded on the Affections: 46. The Brothers. [I.]
  36. IV. Poems on the Naming of Places: 86. Advertisement
  37. V. Poems of the Fancy: 96. *A Morning Exercise. [I.]
  38. VI. Poems of the Imagination: 128. *There was a Boy. [I.]
  39. Part I: 183. *Commencement of writing of Sonnets
  40. Part II: 199. *Sonnet IV
  41. Part III
  42. VIII. Memorials of a Tour in Scotland, 1803: 241. *Setting out
  43. IX. Memorials of a Second Tour in Scotland, 1814
  44. X. Poems Dedicated to National Independence and Liberty: [Headed in I.F. Notes 'Sonnets Dedicated to Liberty.']
  45. XI. Memorials of a Tour on the Continent, 1820: 271. *Introductory Remarks
  46. XII. Memorials of a Tour in Italy, 1837: 295. *Introductory Remarks
  47. XIII. The River Duddon: A Series of Sonnets: 317. Introduction
  48. XIV. Ecclesiastical Sonnets: 332. Ecclesiastical Sonnets in Series
  49. Part I: From the Introduction of Christianity into Britain to the: Consummation of the Papal Dominion
  50. Part II: To the Close of the Troubles in the Reign of Charles I: 348. Cistertian Monastery. [Sonnet III.]
  51. Part III: From the Restoration to the Present Time: 355. The Pilgrim Fathers. [Sonnet XIII.]
  52. Part III: From the Restoration to the Present Time: 355. The Pilgrim Fathers. [Sonnet XIII.]
  53. XVI. Evening Voluntaries
  54. XVII. Poems Composed or Suggested During a Tour in the Summer of 1833: 388. Advertisement
  55. XVIII. Poems of Sentiment and Reflection: 421. Expostulation and Reply. [I.]
  56. XIX. Sonnets Dedicated to Liberty and Order: 454. Change, [iv. 1. 14.]
  57. XX. Miscellaneous Poems: 459. Epistle to Sir G. H. Beaumont, Bart.[1.]
  58. XXI. Inscriptions
  59. XXII. Selections from Chaucer Modernised: 487. Of the Volume in which the 'Selections' appeared
  60. XXIII. Poems Referring to the Period of Old Age: 489. The Old Cumberland Beggar. [I.]
  61. XXIV. Epitaphs and Elegiac Pieces: 496. *From Chiabrera. [I. to IX.]
  62. Book IX., towards conclusion: 'While from the grassy mountain's open side We gazed.'
  63. Book IX., towards conclusion: 'While from the grassy mountain's open side We gazed.'
  64. II. Letters and Extracts from Letters
  65. III. Conversations and Personal Reminiscences of Wordsworth: (A) from 'Satyrane's Letters:' Klopstock
  66. Part I
  67. Part II

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About this edition

This free edition of The Prose Works of William Wordsworth by William Wordsworth comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #16550, released 2005-08-19. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Essays, Letters & Speeches, British Literature.

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