...in which we visit Keswick Museum for a deep dive into the life of one of Romantic Lakeland's most under-appreciated figures: writer, former Poet Laureate and long-term resident of Greta Hall, Robert Southey (1774-1843).
In the company of Museum curator Nicola Lawson and trustee Charlotte May, we return to Bristol, 1774 and set the shifting social scene for the birth of a young radical – expelled from Westminster – whose education was beset by bullying.
Alongside new wife Edith Fricker and creative soulmate Samuel Taylor Coleridge, we follow Southey north to Keswick and learn about daily life at Greta Hall, where the young poet became sole breadwinner in a busy household of sisters and their home-educated children.
With tragedy a constant in the Southeys' life – four of the couples’ eight children died before reaching adulthood – we discuss Edith's enduring mental illness, the fast-growing Keswick of the early 1800s, and the great joy Southey derived from family and domestic life.
Reflecting on a controversial and prodigious writing talent (Southey's output far eclipsed that of Wordsworth or Coleridge), we namecheck some of his finest works: from the first published version of Goldilocks and the three bears (The Story of the Three Bears) through his remarkable História do Brasil to the onomatopoeic masterpiece The Cataract of Lodore.
Brazing the frosty cold, we conclude our conversation alongside Southey's grave at Crosthwaite Church, where we consider his relationship with Keswick and the great loss felt at the death of a towering talent and an adored family man.
You can find out more about Southey and Keswick at Keswick Museum: keswickmuseum.org.uk
This was such an insightful and beautifully written piece on Robert Southey—truly one of the most underrated figures among the Romantic poets. It's fascinating to learn how his life at Greta Hall was filled with both literary brilliance and personal tragedy. His dedication to his family, particularly as the sole breadwinner in such a bustling household, speaks volumes about his character.
Southey’s literary contributions, like The Cataract of Lodore and História do Brasil, deserve more attention, not just for their scope but also for the unique voice they brought to literature. I didn’t realize he was behind the first published version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears! That just adds another layer to his versatility as a writer.
On another note,…