Reading this selection of texts by 19th century American women poets leads us to understand why the artist chose them for such an extraordinarily beautiful and inspirational presentation. While elegant editions of Poe, Whitman, and Whittier abound, few exist honoring the work of these important American voices. This book goes beyond that - creating not only homage but a revaluing and reinterpretation completely valid today. Ms. Leavitt has lettered a brief biography of each author that is a fold out or a separate page preceding the text. Following is a short summary. Adelaide Crapsey (1878-1914), Vassar graduate and Smith College teacher, developed a new verse form, the cinquain, a five-line form of 22 syllables which suited her concise form of expression. Eliza Follen (1787-1860), poet, biographer, editor, novelist, and abolitionist was part of the literary Boston / Cambridge of her day. Mary Fordham (1862-?) was an African American poet who we know only from the publication of her book, MAGNOLIA LEAVES in 1897. It featured an introduction by Booker T. Washington and the verse, "Softly as the gliding stream, / Falls the glittering, sparkling snow. / With its wealth of crystal pearls / Shining pure …" obviously the inspiration for the binding on this beautiful book. Elizabeth Kinney (1810-1889), published poet in her own lifetime, was part of the Brownings' circle in Italy. Hannah Gould (1789-1865) was born in Lancaster, MA but spent much of her life in Newburyport, MA where she cared for her widowed father and wrote poetry for a number of periodicals and book publication. Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) is considered, along with Walt Whitman, one of the two quintessential American poets of the 19th century. Lydia Sigourney (1791-1865) called the "Sweet Singer of Hartford" published more than 50 books during her lifetime.

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