Sound the Deep Waters: Women's Romantic Poetry in the Victorian Age

Romantic souls too shy to write a sentimental line to their loved ones on Valentine's Day may choose to proffer this compact and marvelously illustrated treasury instead. Selections from such Victorian poets as Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Emma Lazarus, Emily Dickinson and Emily and Anne Bronte express carefree, bittersweet or melancholy moods; the poems are illustrated with dramatic, glowing portraits of classical beauties draped in sumptuous garments. Though the poetry is solely by women, the 52 color plates are of paintings by Victorian men and women artists; for example, Pre-Raphaelite Dante Gabriel Rossetti's work offsets the verse of his sister Christina and his wife Elizabeth Siddal. Depictions of flowers and delicate line borders ornament each page of this syrupy volume, giving it a lush and appealing look. (Feb.) Additional Listing Here is the correct version of a review that appeared originally in the Dec. 13 Nonfiction Forecasts .