Poems on Various Subjects, Religious ..., Phillis Wheatley
Poems on Various Subjects, Religious ..., Phillis Wheatley
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Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

Author: Phillis Wheatley

Narrator: Simone Gayuma

Unabridged: 2 hr 2 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/06/2021


Synopsis

Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral was the first published book of poetry by an African-American woman. Phillis Wheatley was a servant to a family in Massachusetts, and initially promoted her poetry in Boston newspapers to find a publisher. When she was initially unable to find a publisher in America, she sent her poetry overseas to England, hoping to eventually find someone who would both believe in the authenticity of her words and allow them to be widely printed.The significance of this collection is not in its contents alone, but in the fact that it was published and the work that went into it. To publish the collection, Phillis was required to attest before 18 Bostonian men (including John Hancock) to ensure that she had written the poems herself, and explain how she was able to learn reading and writing as a servant. Such extreme verification was required of Black writers for many generations, and is an example of the hardships that Black people faced in progressing in a society based on white “racial superiority.”

Reviews

Goodreads review by Raymond

Good collection, many of the poems are about the loss of a loved one. I mostly read it because of Phillis Wheatley's historic significance of being the first published African American poet. Poetry fans may like it more than I did.......more

There is absolutely no denying that Phillis Wheatley reaches for transcendence and achieves a type of sublime beauty with this collections of poems. The content is inspired by both the people and events that encompass her lived experience, as well as her explorations of religious spirituality. Much......more

Goodreads review by Vicki

I realized that I have not read enough American poets' entire books. Wheatley's beautiful poetry gives a glimpse into her times.......more