Dorothy Wordsworth English writer, poet and memoirist Date of Birth: 25.12.1771 Country: Great Britain

Biography of Dorothy Wordsworth

Dorothy Mae Ann Wordsworth was born on December 25, 1771, in Cockermouth, Cumberland. She was an English writer, poet, and memoirist, and is best known as the sister of the romantic poet William Wordsworth, with whom she maintained a close relationship throughout her life. Despite not aspiring to be a writer herself, Dorothy's works are represented by a series of letters, personal diaries, and stories.

Dorothy's mother died when she was young, but this did not prevent her, William, and their three brothers and sisters from having a happy childhood. In 1783, their father passed away, and the children were sent to live with various relatives. The future writer resided with her aunt Elizabeth Threlkeld in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

After reuniting with her brother William in Dorset in 1795, and later in Somerset in 1797-1798, they became inseparable. In the early years, the siblings lived in poverty and even had to wear clothes given to them by friends. Dorothy was a poet and memoirist but had little interest in becoming a famous writer like her brother. She once wrote, "I cannot bear the idea of being established as a writer..."

However, Dorothy almost published her account of her journey with William to Scotland in 1803, titled "Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland," but was unable to find a publisher for her work. It was not until 1874 that this work was finally published.

Born in Cockermouth, Dorothy never married and continued to live with William even after his marriage to Mary Hutchinson in 1802. At the time, she considered herself too old at the age of 31 to get married. In 1829, Dorothy fell seriously ill and remained incapacitated until the end of her days. She passed away on January 25, 1855, at the age of 83, spending her last twenty years, according to biographer Richard Cavendish, "in the deep haze of old age."

Dorothy's work, "Grasmere Journal," was first published in 1897, edited by William Knight. In it, she vividly described her day-to-day life in the Lake District, detailing her long walks with her brother through the countryside. She also painted verbal portraits of literary luminaries of the early 19th century, including Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Sir Walter Scott, Charles Lamb, and her close friend Robert Southey, who popularized the fairy tale "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

Many of Dorothy's literary works came to light when literary critics began reassessing the role of women in literature. The success of the "Grasmere Journal" led to a renewed interest in Dorothy among readers. Collections of her letters and other personal diaries were published. Her works demonstrated the vital role Dorothy played in her brother's success, as William relied on her descriptions and vision of nature and freely used her diaries in his own works.