For my final day of the 3 Quote Challenge, and maybe because it is snowing, I chose this quote from the earliest female published in both England and the New World.
Anne Dudley Bradstreet (1612-1672) was a Puritan poet whose intimate words were published in England by a brother-in-law, without her permission, as early as 1650.
Born in privilege, educated at Cambridge, married at 16 to a prominent soldier of Queen Elizabeth, she was among the first to sail to the new world.
Mother of 8, dedicated to husband and family in the tradition of her Puritan ethics, she wrote for herself and family, knowing she would never be well received by society as a serious writer.
She is often regarded as one of the first true American feminists.
In her time, a “Gentlewoman in those parts.”
She writes, in “Prologue”:
I am obnoxious to each carping tongue
Who says my hand a needle better fits.
A poet’s pen all scorn I should thus wrong;
For such despite they cast on female wits,
If what I do prove well, it won’t advance–
They’ll say it was stolen, or else it was by chance.
Thank you to Erika for an always welcome challenge.
https://erikakind.wordpress.com/
Her blog is, in her own words, a place of “Love and Light.”
I’m sharing this on Facebook. I loved it!
She is not as famous as she should be, Linda. Thanks. ❤️
You are welcome, Vanbytheriver!
Wow this is so cool! Thanks for sharing this!
Most welcome, Lynn. I didn’t know her story. It is fascinating. It didn’t start out that way, but it was fun to focus on 3 very different female voices for this challenge. Thanks. ❤️
I didn’t know her story either very interesting and amazing!
What an interesting and inspiring woman. Great quote! 🙂
Thanks, Tonya. She has many famous descendants, both husband and son were governors of Massachusetts. Heirs include John,co- founder of Dunn & Bradstreet, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Herbert Hoover, John Kerry, David Souter, Kyra Sedgwick, among others. Quite a legacy. ☺
Wow! That is quite a legacy. It’s amazing the impact one life can make. Thanks for sharing this impressive woman in history. 🙂
How sad and how amazing she is.
The inherent oppression of women in Puritan America; hard to imagine the obstacles she faced in her world, yet still…she created such beauty. Thanks, Cindy. ❤️
Awesome quote! The quote gets an even deeper meaning with the story behind. It is wonderful that you added that! What a woman! Thank you so much for your kind words, dear Van! Big hugs to you and I am looking forward to the next opportunity to nominate you 💖💖
It’s always a favorite challenge for me. Thanks again, Erika.💕
So glad I could give you some smiles with the nomination! 💖
Wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing. A pioneer in every sense of the word. We owe her much.
For sure, Diana. I don’t remember hearing of her in any study of those early colonists. 💖
Great quote, so true!
Sure is, Vic. Thanks. ☺
As intrinsic as her extremism was to her character and work, I often thought what a shame it was that Bradstreet’s intellect and and sensitivity were so shackled to the leaden weight of her faith and time.
Well said, Chuck, thanks.
Interesting! I can’t imagine living in a world where I couldn’t write.
Thanks for sharing this, Van. 🙂
My pleasure, Linda. I’m with you on this one. She was bright, educated, gifted, and was meant to keep it all to herself. ❤️
Great find!
I thought so, Rob. Thanks. 💖
I remember reading her in high school, although not well enough to remember her works. I remember hating that after her, we moved to all the religious stuff and “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” was far from Bradstreet’s poems…I wanted to go back, and quick!
That’s impressive, Joey. I never heard of her in high school. 💕
I was part of what was then experimental, American lit taught with American history, two teachers, two hours, called Interdisc (Interdisciplinary English.) I’ve since found the same two EXCELLENT teachers still teach those classes, and I hope my kids are in them as well 🙂
That’s really great. You were lucky.
I was 😀
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Thanks, Sally, you’re so right. It’s hard to imagine being accepted as a writer in that Puritan culture. ❤️
Reblogged this on The Wishing Well and commented:
For today’s shindigger-showcase reblog (#7 of 14 days of reblogs) I’ve chosen this fantastic post from vanbytheriver. The quote chosen is excellent and she also shares the fascinating background story of the 17th century female author. There are many more excellent posts to read at this blog so I do hope you spare some time to visit and explore. Happy Sunday 🙂
Thanks so much, Colette. 💘