Dora Greenwell
Dora Greenwell (1821–1882) was an English poet and essayist known for her literary contributions and social activism during the Victorian era. Born to a family of landed gentry in Durham, Greenwell faced a significant change in circumstances when her family's fortunes declined in 1847, which deeply affected her outlook on life and inspired her commitment to social issues. She began her literary career with the publication of her first book of poetry, *Poems*, in 1848, and corresponded with notable figures such as American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Throughout her life, Greenwell formed important literary connections with contemporaries like Christina Rossetti and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who influenced her work.
Her writings often reflected her strong Christian faith and addressed societal concerns, including women's issues and the education of marginalized individuals. Some of her notable works include *A Present Heaven* and *The Patience of Hope*. In her later years, Greenwell moved to London but faced health challenges that led her to live with her brother. Despite the challenges she encountered, Greenwell's literary output has garnered renewed interest, particularly among feminist scholars, highlighting her significance within the Victorian literary canon.
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Subject Terms
Dora Greenwell
Poet
- Born: December 6, 1821
- Birthplace: Greenwell Ford, near Lanchester, Durham, England
- Died: March 29, 1882
- Place of death: Clifton, near Bristol, England
Biography
Dora Greenwell was born on December 6, 1821, at Greenwell Ford, near Lanchester, Durham, England, to William Thomas and Dorothy Smales Greenwell. Her father was a magistrate and a member of the landed gentry, and her mother was the daughter of a lawyer. One of five children, Greenwell was the only daughter and was educated at home, largely through her own efforts. She was a lively, precocious child who took the plight of the poor to heart. Her days at Greenwell Ford came to an end in 1847, when her father lost their home through a business failure. This event impacted the young woman deeply; she was thrown from a life of comparative luxury into one of genteel poverty. With her mother and father, Greenwell moved to the home of her brother, a rector in Northumberland, where the family remained until 1850. Shortly after her move to Northumberland, Greenwell published her first book of poetry, Poems, in 1848. She sent copies of this book to the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and engaged in an extended correspondence with him. Although her first book met with tepid response, it was sufficient to warrant another volume of poetry, published in 1850, Stories That Might Be True, With Other Poems.
In 1850 the Greenwell family moved the home of Greenwelll’s brother Alan, a cleric in Golbourne, Lancashire. Greenwell continued her work with the poor during this period. She also made many important literary friendships, including those with Josephine Grey Butler, the social reformer, and the Constables, a well-known publishing family. With her father’s death in 1854 and her brother’s resignation from his position in the same year, Greenwell and her mother were forced to move to Durham, where they resided from 1854 to 1872. The years in Durham were important ones for Greenwell’s literary development. She found friendships with the writers Jean Ingelow and Christina Rossetti. In addition, Greenwell met Elizabeth Barrett Browning once before her death in 1861; like other women poets of her generation, Greenwell was deeply influenced by Browning, whom she considered a literary foremother.
Two of Greenwell’s most-important books were also published during the Durham years: A Present Heaven (1855) and The Patience of Hope (1860). These were theological books concerning Christian commitment and struggle. In addition, Greenwell wrote on many social issues, including two important essays, “On Single Women,” and “On the Education of the Imbecile,” which both appeared in the Northern British Review in the 1860’s. After the death of her mother, Greenwell moved to London in 1874 until 1881, when she had a disabling accident and was forced to move in with her brother Alan. She died on March 29, 1882. Greenwell’s achievements as a writer are evident in the books of poetry and essays she produced during her lifetime and in the many articles she published in periodicals and newspapers. Feminist scholars began focusing on Greenwell’s work at the end of the twentieth century, which suggests that Greenwell will become increasingly important in the canon of Victorian women writers.