Lady Mary Wroth

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LMW achieved two firsts with a single publication in 1621: the first full-length fiction (a prose romance) to be written in English by a woman and the first sonnet sequence in English by a woman (discounting the less than certain ascription of a sonnet sequence based on Psalm 51 to Anne Locke ). Outside this landmark publication, she is known to have written other poems, a play, and surviving letters.
Full-length portrait of Lady Mary Wroth attributed to John de Critz the elder, c. 1620. She stands holding a theorbo that reaches to her shoulder, in a picture with striking touches of red. Wroth's stiff, embroidered gown and large, transparent ruff are pale; her petticoat and belt are red, and her arms, shoulders, and bust are picked out with red bows. She rests an arm of a red sofa, with red curtains behind.

Milestones

18 October 1587
Mary Sidney (later LMW ) was born, most probably at Baynards Castle, the London base of her family.
Hannay, Margaret P. Mary Sidney, Lady Wroth. Ashgate, 2010.
20-1
Roberts, Josephine A., and Lady Mary Wroth. “Introduction and Notes”. The Poems of Lady Mary Wroth, Louisiana State University Press, 1983, pp. 3 - 75, 219.
3, 6
Around 1610-1620
LMW wrote her major work, Urania, a prose romance with poems and sonnets, some interspersed but most printed in a block at the end.
Wroth, Lady Mary. Pamphilia to Amphilanthus. Waller, Gary F.Editor , University of Salzburg, 1977.
1-2
1613
A complimentary remark of Joshua Sylvester about LMW implies that she was circulating her writings in manuscript by this date.
Roberts, Josephine A., and Lady Mary Wroth. “Introduction and Notes”. The Poems of Lady Mary Wroth, Louisiana State University Press, 1983, pp. 3 - 75, 219.
18-19
13 July 1621
LMW 's pastoral prose romance, The Countesse of Montgomeries Urania, was licensed for printing; it appeared that year.
Arber, Edward, editor. A Transcript of the Registers of the Company of Stationers of London 1554-1660, A. D. Privately Printed, 1894.
15 December 1621
LMW wrote to assure Buckingham , the king 's favourite, that she meant no offence to the court by her book, yet offering to withdraw it.
Wroth, Lady Mary. The Poems of Lady Mary Wroth. Roberts, Josephine A.Editor , Louisiana State University Press, 1983.
236
31 May 1640
The Earl of Rutland , reading Urania, wrote to ask LMW for a key to names of the characters, to increase his enjoyment.
Wroth, Lady Mary. The Poems of Lady Mary Wroth. Roberts, Josephine A.Editor , Louisiana State University Press, 1983.
244-5
1651 or 1653
LMW died in one of these two years.
Roberts, Josephine A., and Lady Mary Wroth. “Introduction and Notes”. The Poems of Lady Mary Wroth, Louisiana State University Press, 1983, pp. 3 - 75, 219.
40
1815
Sir Egerton Brydges reprinted extracts from LMW 's Urania.
Roberts, Josephine A., and Lady Mary Wroth. “Introduction and Notes”. The Poems of Lady Mary Wroth, Louisiana State University Press, 1983, pp. 3 - 75, 219.
53

Biography

Birth and Family

18 October 1587
Mary Sidney (later LMW ) was born, most probably at Baynards Castle, the London base of her family.
Hannay, Margaret P. Mary Sidney, Lady Wroth. Ashgate, 2010.
20-1
Roberts, Josephine A., and Lady Mary Wroth. “Introduction and Notes”. The Poems of Lady Mary Wroth, Louisiana State University Press, 1983, pp. 3 - 75, 219.
3, 6

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