‘I am alone; why are not you seated with me? and my dear William why is not he here also? I could almost fancy that I see you both near me. I have chosen a bank where I have room to spare for a resting-place for each of you.’ – Dorothy Wordsworth in a letter to Jane Pollard, 10 July 1793.

Dorothy Wordsworth has been described as having ‘a genius for friendship’. She was a lively correspondent and maintained life-long relationships through her letters, especially with her female friends. Dorothy was her brother William’s first reader, co-writer, editor, critic and dearest friend. Dorothy’s writings, and the reflections of those who knew her, paint the picture of an empathetic and much-loved woman who placed great value on her relationships.

Lucy Newlyn, Samantha Frank and Jeff Cowton sit down to explore some of Dorothy’s most important personal relationships, from her creative collaboration with William to her well-documented friendships with people such as Jane Pollard, Lady Beaumont, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Drawing upon Lucy’s books Vital Stream and All in Each Other, Samantha’s work with members of the aroace community on a project for the Dorothy: Writer, Sister, Friend exhibition, and close-up exploration of manuscripts from our collection, they will reflect on Dorothy’s relationships and what we can learn from her today.

Tickets: https://wordsworth.org.uk/blog/events/reflections-on-dorothy-wordsworths-closest-relationships/