In 1861, Dante Gabriel Rossetti sent a selection of Christina Rossetti’s poems to John Ruskin. The Rossettis, searching for a publisher for Christina’s poems, hoped to have Ruskin’s approval. Ruskin felt, however, that Christina’s poems weren’t fit for publication, at least not yet: “I sate up till late last night reading poems. They are full of beauty and power. But no publisher—I am deeply grieved to know this—would take them, so full are they of quaintnesses and offences” (qtd. in R.A. Bellas, Christina Rossetti, 32). Ruskin sent Dante Gabriel the following advice: “your sister should exercise herself in the severest commonplace of meter until she can write as the public like. Then if she puts in her observation and passion all

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Published 17 May 2004

Citation: Warne, Vanessa. "Goblin Market and Other Poems". The Literary Encyclopedia. 17 May 2004.
[http://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=4952, accessed 9 February 2010.]