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The Grasmere Journals
- Narrated by: Emma Fielding
- Length: 8 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged Audiobook
- Categories: Literature & Fiction, World Literature
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Summary
This is perhaps one of the best-loved of all journals. William Wordsworth's sister, Dorothy, began it in May 1800 and resolved to keep it for a short time. She continued it for nearly three years.
In it, she brought the Dove Cottage years to vivid and intimate life. She noted the walks and weather, the friends, country neighbours, and travellers on the roads. She set down accounts of the garden, of Wordsworth's marriage, their concern for Coleridge, and the composition of Wordsworth's poetry.
Readings of some of Wordsworth's poems form the last part of this recording.
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What listeners say about The Grasmere Journals
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Karen Thomas
- 22-06-18
So gentle
You can hear Dorothy Wordsworth enjoying her quiet and pleasant life, a real antidote to today's hectic life.
8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- richard2
- 25-05-22
Calming and inspiring
This is so beautifully read, and so full of the lovely detailed observance of the natural world, as well as the mundane activities of humdrum life.
The poems at the end of the journal reflect and amplify some of Dorothy’s observations-and whilst acknowledging her great contribution to William’s life and work, show why he is the extraordinary writer and she his admiring supporter.
Their relationship doesn’t seem a ‘normal’ brother/sister connection, but it’s intensity seems to have nourished them both, despite Dorothy’s essential role of pie baker and sock mender to the Great Man, possibly at the expense of her own possibilities. She never for a moment seems to feel anything other than love for him, and their life together.
This was delightful listening .
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- LillyBee
- 06-04-22
Captivating.
This is beautifully read with a gentle captivating cadence. This journal inspired me. It was so good I bought a paper copy. I shall listen to this more than once.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Pamela
- 14-03-22
Excellent Narration by Emma Fielding
The journals provide an insight into the domestic household life of William and Dorothy Wordsworth. And there is a certain amount of charm to the everyday. This seemed to consist of much walking, visiting, writing letters, sleeping (often at very odd times!), and sitting in the garden or orchard. Both Dorothy and William regularly suffered from various ailments, in fact, on an almost daily basis.
Due to the lack of any real depth to people's characters or thoughts and feelings apart from the pleasure of the landscape. At times the daily details can become somewhat tedious. I felt no wiser about Coleridge or William or Dorothy Wordsworth because it is thoughts feelings peccadilloes that bring a person's character to life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 20-02-22
Beautifully narrated
This is a wonderfully relaxing reading. The narration and description of country life conjure up beautiful images
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jacqueline
- 14-02-22
sublime
love this , beautiful, restful, absorbing, quirky and breathtaking, the narration is literally the best ever , a wonderful book to listen to when resting at night
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 15-05-19
Wonderful
Wonderful, well-read journey into the daily activities of some of the greats of English literature, as close to first hand as we're ever to see of these important (for their time, revolutionary) poets.
We can't fault the journal for being what it was intended to be: daily jottings by sister Dorothy of daily events, travels, walks and various ailments, weather-watcher, bread-maker and, on occasion, some great observations of time and region, for example, the varying 'beggars' that come to life through vivid description.
Even in Grasmere one feels the social isolation: Dorothy's expectation, disappointments and receipt of letters takes up much more space in the journal than would otherwise be the case if these were not a primary and much anticipated communication.
It's interesting to see the casual, off-hand references to poems or the 'Lyrical Ballads' that ushered in English Romanticism. Occasionally, one has the impression, as Wordsworth later writes of humankind in the 'River Duddon' sequences, 'that they were greater than what they know'.
1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- MCD
- 15-05-21
Grade 6
I memorized so much of the work of the poet William Wordsworth. little did I know that I would still be enjoying him at the age of 76
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- wendy
- 12-02-13
so boring
What disappointed you about The Grasmere Journals?
The journal entries are meaningless. She'll spend an entire evening with Wordsworth and not mention a single thing they discussed.
What was most disappointing about Dorothy Wordsworth’s story?
There was no story, no thinking, no thoughts. It's all walks in the rain, day after day.
1 person found this helpful
