
Transcriber's Note: Some of the Headings are in 'Old English Text' font, available HERE.
POEMS OF RURAL LIFE
IN THE DORSET DIALECT.
BY - WILLIAM BARNES.
LONDON: - KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRÜBNER & Co., LTD. - 1903
POEMS OF RURAL LIFE.
FIRST COLLECTION.
Eclogue.
Eclogue.
Eclogue. - THE BEST MAN IN THE VIELD.
A vivid snapshot of Dorset’s countryside comes alive in this unified volume of three previously hard‑to‑find collections. Written in the region’s own dialect, the verses capture the rhythm of everyday life, from the sparkle of spring brooks to the quiet hum of woodland birds. The poet’s affectionate eye turns ordinary scenes—farm work, seasonal change, village gatherings—into small celebrations of place and community.
The poems are accompanied by a helpful glossary and pronunciation guide, allowing listeners unfamiliar with the local speech to follow the lyrical flow without stumbling. Themes of nature’s renewal, simple joys, and the gentle presence of faith weave through the verses, offering a comforting sense of continuity. Whether you’re wandering a sun‑lit field or recalling the scent of mossy hedgerows, the collection invites you to share in the timeless charm of rural Dorset.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (546K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2007-06-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1801–1886
A Dorset poet, priest, and language lover, he became famous for vivid poems that preserve the sounds and rhythms of rural life. His work is especially cherished for its Dorset dialect and its deep feeling for ordinary people and places.
View all books
by William Barnes

by Dion Boucicault

by Maria Edgeworth

by Ben Jonson

by Eliza Fowler Haywood

by Lady (Sydney) Morgan

by Ben Jonson