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Isabella Valancy Crawford: The Scarcely Known Canadian Poet

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Isabella Valancy Crawford: We Scarcely Knew Her

by Eva Pohler

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Language	:	English
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Print length	:	157 pages

Isabella Valancy Crawford was a prolific Canadian poet who wrote over 600 poems. Despite her prolific output, she is relatively unknown today. This article explores her life and work, and argues that she was one of the most important Canadian poets of the 19th century.

Early Life and Education

Isabella Valancy Crawford was born in Dublin, Ireland, on December 25, 1850. Her father was a doctor, and her mother was a writer. Crawford's family emigrated to Canada when she was three years old, and they settled in the town of Peterborough, Ontario. Crawford was a bright and precocious child, and she began writing poetry at a young age. She attended the University of Toronto, where she studied classics and English literature. Crawford graduated from the university in 1872, and she returned to Peterborough to teach school.

Literary Career

Crawford's literary career began in the early 1870s, when she began publishing her poems in Canadian literary magazines. Her work was well-received by critics, and she soon became one of the most popular poets in Canada. Crawford's poetry is characterized by its lyrical beauty, its strong sense of rhythm, and its evocative imagery. She wrote about a wide range of subjects, including nature, love, and loss. Crawford's poetry is often compared to that of Emily Dickinson, and she is considered to be one of the most important Canadian poets of the 19th century.

Personal Life

Crawford's personal life was often difficult. She never married, and she struggled with financial problems throughout her life. She also suffered from depression and other mental health issues. In her later years, Crawford became increasingly isolated, and she died in a mental hospital in 1887.

Legacy

Crawford's legacy is complex and contested. She was a brilliant poet who wrote some of the most beautiful and moving poems in Canadian literature. However, she was also a troubled individual who struggled with mental illness and financial problems. Crawford's work has been largely forgotten today, but it is slowly being rediscovered by scholars and readers alike. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in Crawford's life and work, and her poetry is now considered to be an important part of the Canadian literary canon.

Isabella Valancy Crawford was a remarkable poet who wrote some of the most beautiful and moving poems in Canadian literature. Her work is characterized by its lyrical beauty, its strong sense of rhythm, and its evocative imagery. Crawford's personal life was often difficult, but she never gave up on her writing. She is an inspiration to all those who struggle with mental illness and other challenges. Crawford's work is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.