Alfoxden Journal 1798

work by Wordsworth

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June 18, 2026

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The Alfoxden Journal 1798 is a significant prose work by Dorothy Wordsworth, sister of the renowned Romantic poet William Wordsworth. Written during their stay at Alfoxden House in Somerset, England, this journal, along with her later Grasmere Journals, is celebrated for its vivid descriptions of nature.1

Dorothy's keen observations and imaginative prose profoundly influenced her brother's poetry. Many of her phrases and descriptions found their way into his famous works, leading some critics to debate the extent of collaboration between them. However, most scholars view them as equal creative partners. The Alfoxden Journal specifically documents William's friendship with Samuel Taylor Coleridge, a period that culminated in the publication of Lyrical Ballads in 1798, marking the beginning of the Romantic movement.21

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Dorothy Wordsworth
…an English prose writer whose Alfoxden Journal 1798 and Grasmere Journals 1800–03 are remarkable for the imaginative power of their description of nature. Her journals also shed significant light on her brother, the Romantic poet William Wordsworth, whose own work was profoundly influenced by her writing.
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…an English prose writer whose Alfoxden Journal 1798 and Grasmere Journals 1800–03 are remarkable for the imaginative power of their description of nature. Her journals also shed significant light on her brother, the Romantic poet William Wordsworth, whose own work was profoundly influenced by her writing.
Read More