Mistress Bradstreet: The Untold Life of America's First Poet

by Charlotte Gordon

Book Overview

Though her work is a staple of anthologies of American poetry, Anne Bradstreet has never before been the subject of an accessible, full-scale biography for a general audience. Anne Bradstreet is known for her poem, "To My Dear and Loving Husband," among others, and through John Berryman's "Homage to Mistress Bradstreet." With her first collection, The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, she became the first published poet, male or female, of the...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316169048
• ISBN13: 9780316169042
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.34 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

History I knew little about but should have.

I'm finding "Mistress Bradstreet" an absolutely fascinating read. Charlotte Gordon's book about the first American poet's life, which includes background on her roots in England, give me an entirely new perspective on the Puritans and their roll in helping to shape America. It should be required reading for children studying our history even if it would stretch their vocabularies. The literary "meat" within these pages is reward enough for the fact that there aren't any pictures. The mental pictures are vivid. I look forward to reading Bradstreet's poems next.

Big surprise

I bought this by a geneological accident. Anne Bradstreet is my great (to the ninth) grandmother and so the book was expected to offer a few tid-bits of an ancestors life in between probably too much dull poetry. As you can tell I am not a student of feminist literature and had rather low expectations for Gordons effort and boy was I surprised! This turned out to be a "page turner". Charlotte Gordon is an entertaining writer and skillfully intermingled all manner of puritan lore, english history, and life-on-the-frontier gossip with a fascinating story of Annes life. By the time we finally got to the poetry I was actually ready and eager. The ambience of the times was so well described that Anne's poetry full naturally into place and was a fit and welcomed presence. This is an epic tale of hardship and the distress of puritan belief. If Oprah got a hold of this book it could easily end up as major best seller. Do not stay your hand. BUY IT!

A Lovely & Timely Biography!

Anne Bradstreet is virtually unknown--but not after this engrossing and well-researched biography! The author has carefully crafted a beautiful book about the life of this great woman of the early American days. A wonderful book!

Inspirational Modern Messages in an Important Historic Story

I LOVED this book and couldn't put it down - It traces the life and work of Anne Bradstreet, America's first poet, whose story carries a very modern message. "Mistress Bradstreet" is vital reading TODAY for several reasons: 1) it inspires any present-day American who is bent on holding on to their passion, voice, faith and family in times of great upheaval and change, and 2) It fills in missing chapters of history of those women leaders, creative thinkers, and pioneers who continue to shape the world. 3) Finally, Gordon's writing is gorgeous, combining the best of storytelling, biography and history.

A Compelling Adventure in Early America

This wonderful literary biography is an important contribution to the history of American literature and thought. Anne Bradstreet, a poet whose work I was only slightly familiar with, emerges as a vital, passionate, brave, and yet very human woman in this lively and well written biography. The biography reads like a novel as the author,Charlote Gordon,includes vivid images of early American life including hostile Indians, drunken sybarites, and scathingly judgemental Pilgrims. The reader learns about religious history, the Puritan movement, Anne's life events, the trials and tribulations she faced as a powerfully faithful and spiritual woman in England, the struggles and joys she faced as a wife and mother raising a family in primitive conditions in some of the first settlements in the New World. The biography is constructed with superb and lively scholarship. Perhaps the most interesting part of the book is that Gordon, a poet herself, discovers Miss Bradstreet's inner feelings and thoughts by interpreting Anne's poetry. The reader gets to follow Anne's private world though Gordon's inciteful commentary. A must read for anyone interested in poetry, early American history, and adventure.