The Works of Anne Bradstreet

I have been teaching American history and literature for over 40 years. Anne Bradstreet has always been my favorite American poet. As many of my ancestors were Puritans, she speaks to me in a personal way, and reminds me that they were not cold-hearted, unfeeling people.

Anne Bradstreet, perhaps America's earliest poet, lived in an uncertain time in the new world. She grew up a Puritan and lived in a Puritan society in the New World. However, I believe Bradstreet should be considered as more than just a Puritan poet. I just finished a paper for my Masters class debating whether or not Bradstreet is a Puritan poet, and I concluded that she is in fact much more. Every quote I used in my project came from Hensley's book, since it is one of the few that actually contains everything published by Bradstreet. Bradstreet's poetry and prose are accessible to anyone. That is, her poetry is easy to read and understand. I encourage people interested in Bradstreet's life and the life of people during the early times of American history to read her collection of work. Then, I encourage the reader to judge for themselves how much we should consider Bradstreet to be considered only as a Puritan author. In the poems where she address her husband and children, she is circumventing the traditional Puritan belief that love and marriage end after death. Bradstreet also had to fight the male critics and authorities during her time, and her poetry reflects this conflict. For example, she degrades her own work in comparison to male poets, but by doing so, Bradstreet is masking her true intentions by flattering the very people she is insulting. This further proves her skills as a female poet writing in a Puritan time period. My goal is to read all of Bradstreet's poetry and prose from beginning to end. I think Bradstreet is under represented in schools, but I hope books like this bring her back to the forefront of early American Literature. I encourage people to buy this book, read her words, and try to imagine writing in such a dangerous time period. Bradstreet captures the fear and danger of living on the New Frontier, and the conflict each person would have faced between their faith in God and the reality they experienced. I hope others will enjoy Bradstreet's poetry as much as I did.

How many people know that America's first great poet was a woman? Reading this collection of her works leaves one in little doubt about her greatness. The consummate artistry with which she expresses her inmost feelings pulls her to us, across the divide of three and a half centuries. Bradstreet's poetry shows that those Puritans, with their funny clothes, intolerant religion, and witch hunts experienced love, longing, and loss with much the same emotions that we do. Very highly recommended.

Three hundred and fifty years later, Anne Bradstreet still touches the heart and soul of her readers. On the Burning of My House still reminds us of where our priorities need to be, and on the importance of family. As a 10th great granddaughter, I realize that her works were written not only for herself and for her peers, but for the thousands of descendants in the world today. That is what makes truly great literature.

As an English major, I studied Anne Bradstreet in college and enjoyed her. I was thrilled to find out several years later she is my 9th great-grandmother! I love the spirituality and honesty of her writings. My favorite is "As Weary Pilgrim," as it captures the fatigue we sometimes feel in battling the adversities of life, and the hope of rest in a glorious afterlife. I love the cadence of the poem; it gives me a restful feeling. Reading colonial writings such as these, I'm remined of the foundation upon which our nation was built and the admirable character of some of these early Americans. It has become popular to "trash" the early Puritans. I am grateful for Anne Bradstreet's legacy of faith and courage, and the legacy of others who lived in her day.