The Female Reader

Illustration for the cover of Christina Rossetti's Goblin Market and Other Poems (1862), by her brother Dante Gabriel Rossetti ( Source ) Goblin Market  is the titular poem of Christina Rossetti's acclaimed collection which was first printed in 1862 when she was aged 31. It is ostensibly about two sisters' misadventures with goblins, critics have interpreted the piece in a variety of ways, seeing it as an allegory about temptation and salvation, a commentary on Victorian gender roles and female agency, and a work about erotic desire and social redemption. Personally, I find it an intriguing poetical fairy tale, moralising on the bonds of sisterhood. Read on and decide for yourself! Reading time: 13 minutes Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti Morning and evening Maids heard the goblins cry: 'Come buy our orchard fruits, Come buy, come buy: Apples and quinces, Lemons and oranges, Plump unpecked cherries, Melons and raspberries, Bloom-down-cheeked peac...

Illustration from the book, by Djuna Barnes ( Source ) Back in 1915, at the very beginning of her literary career, Djuna Barnes collected eight "rhythms" and five drawings to be published in a chapbook called The Book of Repulsive Women . Set in New York City, the subjects of these poems are all women and for their time were considered controversial due to the descriptions of women's bodies and sexuality. Indeed, they may still be considered salacious today! In later years, Barnes regretted the publication of Repulsive Women: she regarded it an embarrassment, called it "idiotic"; omitted it from her curriculum vitae, and even burned copies! However, as the copyright was never registered, it became one of her most published works, despite remaining the most obscure. For today's reading, I've included the first three poems from Repulsive Women . Only you can decide if you feel they are repulsive; or, as some critics suggest, that the expose and s...