Vignettes in Verse

audiobook

Vignettes in Verse

by Matilda Betham

EN·~43 minutes·28 chapters

Chapters

28 total
1

Vignettes: - IN VERSE.

1:01
2

Vignettes. - I.

1:26
3

II.

1:10
4

III. THE ARTISAN.

1:10
5

IV.

1:15
6

V. VALENTINE - FROM A YOUNG LADY TO HER MOTHER.

0:03
7

It is a custom, in some parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, to send little presents with verses on Valentine's Day, to relatives and friends.

0:57
8

VI. THE LOVER'S APOLOGY.

0:50
9

VII.

0:37
10

VIII. The Spanish Lady's Farewell, 1809.

0:43

Description

A modest yet resonant compilation of poetic sketches, this volume opens with a heartfelt dedication that frames the verses as both tribute and personal confession. The first pieces glide between sunrise and storm, using birds in flight to mirror the fickle fortunes of everyday life, while a tender ode to a woman named Lucy celebrates inner virtue over outward charm. Throughout, the poet’s voice is marked by quiet introspection, drawing the listener into moments of solitary contemplation and modest joy.

Later sections turn to the humble artisan’s twilight refuge, where poverty and longing are softened by the simple pleasure of a solitary hour of peace. A wandering soul returns to English fields, recalling the comfort of familiar hills and rivers that linger in memory. The collection balances wistful yearning with gentle optimism, offering a series of snapshots that feel like whispered reflections on love, labor, and the ever‑changing sky above.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~43 minutes (41K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Jonathan Ingram, David Garcia and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

Release date

2004-02-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

Subjects

About the author

Matilda Betham

Matilda Betham

1776–1852

A lively figure of the Romantic era, this English poet, diarist, and miniature portrait painter moved in literary circles that included Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey. Her work ranged from verse and public Shakespeare readings to an ambitious reference book celebrating notable women from history.

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