The Prose Works of William Wordsworth

Politics, education and the shape of the English lakes share space in this collection of William Wordsworth's prose. Edited by Alexander B. Grosart, it brings together writings that had appeared in scattered publications alongside material preserved in manuscripts. The opening contents identify political and ethical pieces, including discussion of the French Revolution, the Convention of Cintra, public relief and the education of young people. Letters and speeches give these concerns several forms.

A passage on the northern English lakes shows Wordsworth considering how landscape affects both settlement and perception. He links the position of cottages to dry ground and shelter, then studies the proportions of lakes, their winding shores and the reflections on still water. Readers interested in his thinking can follow the connection between practical observation and judgments about beauty. The collection also offers material for comparing his public arguments with his close attention to familiar scenery.