John Clare
A naturalist, poet, and farm laborer, Clare's 2000+ poems focus on the farm labor, village festivals, and Northamptonshire scenery he knew well. His first collection appeared in 1820, followed by The Village Minstrel (also 1820) and he enjoyed great success for a time. The financial and domestic responsibility of caring for a large family proved too strenuous and Clare's mental health degraded; he was committed to the Northamptonshire Lunatic Asylum where he remained until his death. A memorial in Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey commemorates him. In this letter, Clare states that he is enclosing some of his work, but flippantly advises the recipient to think what he pleases of them, and Clare won’t be disappointed. He includes two poems: “To +++++” and “On Seeing a Marble Copy of the Venus...”
This letter and poem is available on the digital library project I Remain.
