Specially commissioned essays cover the important aspects of Wordsworth's life and work. The volume examines his poetic achievement with chapters on poetic craft, the origin of his poetry and the challenges it presents. The book offers students informative supplementary material on Wordsworth's life and critical reception.

Chronology of Wordsworth's Life and Works; Sources and short forms of citation; Wordsowrth on Poetry and Imagination; Introduction Stephen Gill; 1. Wordsworth: the shape of the poetic career Nicola Trott; 2. Wordsworth's poetry to 1798 Duncan Wu; 3. Poetry, 1798-1807: lyrical ballads and poems, in two volumes James A. Butler; 4. The Prelude Lucy Newlyn; 5. The Recluse Kenneth R. Johnston; 6. Wordsworth and the meaning of taste Frances Ferguson; 7. Wordsworth's craft Susan Wolfson; 8. Gender and domesticity Judith Page; 9. The philosophic poet Stephen Gill; 10. Wordsworth and Coleridge Seamus Perry; 11. Wordsworth and the natural world Ralph Pite; 12. Politics, history, and the poems Nicholas Roe; 13. Wordsworth and Romanticism Paul Hamilton; 14. Wordsworth and America Joel Pace; 15. Guide to further reading with a note on texts Keith Hanley; Index.