Sonnets+of+This+Century+With+a+Critical+Introduction+On+the+Sonnet

Sonnets of This Century Edited and Arranged with a Critical Introduction on the Sonnets By William Sharp London: Walter Scott, 24 Warwick Lane, Paternoster Row, and Newcastle-on-Tyne 1886



"In the Autumn will be issued an Edition-de-Luxe of the SONNETS OF THIS CENTURY, large quartro, handsomely bound and printed in large new type on fine paper. A limited number, extra size and on hand-made paper, will be available to early subscribers. Further particulars will be advertised later on in the //Athenæum// and elsewhere, but intending subscribers can at any time previous thereto have a copy or copies reserved by writing to the Publisher, 24 Warwick Lane, E.C." (Sharp)



Published in 1886 by Walter Scott, //Sonnets of this Century//, was an anthology edited by Scottish writer, [|William Sharp]. The anthology includes reprinted poetry from some of the century’s most read poets such as  [|Matthew Arnold] ,  [|Elizabeth Barrett Browning]  ,  [|Samuel Taylor Coleridge]  ,  [| John Keats]  ,  [|Oscar Wilde]  , and  [|William Wordsworth]  . Sharp, was a respected author begins the anthology with, “The Sonnet: Its Characteristics and History” (Scott xxi) and a dedication to  [|Dante Gabriel Rossetti] . The book itself is simply assembled, and sized to fit in a reader’s coat pocket, because the original publication was meant to be transportable and read by the many. Featuring both Romantic <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> and <span style="color: #000002; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Victorian <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> poetry, Sharp’s edited collection of the century’s popular sonnets would have been a significant part of Victorian culture in 1886 England.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">William Sharp (1855-1905), was edited a variety of Victorian poets such as Ossian, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Walter Scott <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Matthew Arnold <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">, <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> [|Algernon Charles Swinburne] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">, and <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> [|Eugene Lee-Hamilton]  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. His collection of nineteenth century sonnets, published by Walter Scott in 1886 includes an introduction on the poetic genre, written by Sharp himself. Literary academia, like Sharp's essay on the Sonnet, was a newer concept during this time, and made Sharp one of the first to analyses and critique literary forms. Sharp dedicated //Sonnets of the Century//, to Dan <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> te Gabriel Rossetti <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">, a favorite poet of his whom had died only four years prior to Sharp’s publication, “Whose glory it is to have done so much to strengthen the love of beauty and art, in literature, and in life” (b, Sharp).

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The anthology includes a collection of both <span style="color: #00000a; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Romantic <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> (1800-1850) and <span style="color: #000005; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Victorian <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> (1837-1901) sonnets, collectively the works of ninety-five writers. Among the included poets such as Matthew Arnold, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Keats, Oscar Wilde, and William Wordsworth. A full list of the poets and a digital copy of the book is available at <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> [|archive.org] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">. The index has italicized sonnet-titles which later appear in the appendix and asterisks which precede the names of the authors whom had died prior to publication. Sharp introduces the collection with a thorough analysis of the structure and meaning of sonnet, and includes two of Sharp’s own sonnets, in memorial to the man he had greatly admired. The 265 poems are organized by author’s last name, beginning with Dean Alfred, and ending with a generous selection of William Wordsworth. They are neatly centered on the page, titled, numbered, given authorship, and then bordered by a simple red rectangle. The inclusion of poets and their work is organized, simple, and to the point, ideal for the Victorian consumer of poetry pocket books.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The University of Victoria’s McPherson Library has a copy of the 1886 publication, which is in good and legible condition. It’s hard to tell if the blue book cover is original, however on the spine there seems to be an original title sticker, which reads, “Sonnets of THIS CENTURY. With Critical Essay. Edited by WILLIAM SHARP”. The pages are yellowed and fringed, however still intact and easy to read. As the book is minimal in terms decoration, the only illustrations are simple decals which separate one section from the next, but red ink has been used to border each page. The last three pages advertise //The Camelot Classics// and a list of new books: //Life of General Gordon//, noted as written by the author of //New World Heroes//, and //Our Queen//, an author’s name however is left out. As for readership, there is evidence of its use as a poetical study book (rhyme scheme markings, underlining, etc.). The pages are clean, practically untouched, and showcase a brilliant collection of the literary critic, William Sharp’s most treasured representations of the sonnet.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Sonnets of This Century //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> exemplifies a crucial specimen of what Victorian culture is; pocket books of poetry. Sharp, known for his critical analysis of nineteenth century literature, has compiled a brilliant collection of some of the most well-known/read Romantic and Victorian sonnets. His critical essay on the sonnet, which introduces the compilation, is thorough and important. As it is simply put together with few illustrations, the anthology was likely meant to be carried around for one’s own personal pleasure, a reference to the Victorian’s cultural interests of poetry and prose.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">This book was found in the University of Victoria's, McPherson Library. ISBN PR1195 S5S52

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Works Cited

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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Collini, Stefan. “Arnold, Matthew (1822–1888).” Stefan Collini//Oxford Dictionary of National Biography//. Ed. H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. Jan. 2008. 5 Apr. 2016 <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/679>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Edwards, Owen Dudley. “Wilde, Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills (1854–1900).” Owen Dudley Edwards//Oxford Dictionary of National Biography//. Ed. H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. Sept. 2012. 5 Apr. 2016 <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29400>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Everest, Kelvin. “Keats, John (1795–1821).” Kelvin Everest//Oxford Dictionary of National Biography//. Ed. H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. May 2006. 5 Apr. 2016 <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/15229>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Gill, Stephen. “Wordsworth, William (1770–1850).” Stephen Gill//Oxford Dictionary of National Biography//. Ed. H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. May 2010. 5 Apr. 2016 <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/29973>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Pittock, Murray G. H.. “Sharp, William [Fiona MacLeod] (1855–1905).” Murray G. H. Pittock//Oxford Dictionary of National Biography//. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. Oxford: OUP, 2004. 5 Apr. 2016 <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/36041>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Rooksby, Rikky. “Swinburne, Algernon Charles (1837–1909).” Rikky Rooksby//Oxford Dictionary of National Biography//. Ed. H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. May 2009. 5 Apr. 2016 <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/36389>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Scott, Walter, ed. //Sonnets of This Century//. London: Walter Scott, 1886. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Stone, Marjorie. “Browning, Elizabeth Barrett (1806–1861).” Marjorie Stone//Oxford Dictionary of National Biography//. Ed. H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. Oct. 2008. 5 Apr. 2016 <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/3711>.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Turner, John R.. “Scott, Sir Walter, first baronet (1826–1910).” John R. Turner//Oxford Dictionary of National Biography//. Ed. H. C. G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford: OUP, 2004. Online ed. Ed. Lawrence Goldman. May 2012. 5 Apr. 2016 <http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/47446>.