Anne Bradstreet Biographical Information

Lived from Father was John Dudley, a nonconformist soldier Anne was well tutored in literature, history, Greek, Latin, French, Hebrew, and English. 1630,at age 18, she sailed with family to America Her father’s coworker, Simon Bradstreet, married Anne when she was 16 and he was 25

Anne Bradstreet In her memoirs, she wrote of America: "I found a new world and new manners at which my heart rose [up in protest.]“ Both her father and husband were governors of Massachusetts, allowing her some luxury of lifestyle. Though her men had social prominence, "any woman who sought to use her wit, charm, or intelligence in the community at large found herself ridiculed, banished, or executed by the Colony's powerful group of male leaders." Bradstreet did not have an easy life., who raised eight children and faced many hardships

Bradstreet did not have an easy life…. Her husband, in quest for more land and power, constantly moved them to the edges of the dangerous frontier. Through this dangerous life, Anne and Simon had 8 children, all of whom lived through childhood, which was rare enough in mire populous areas. Anne herself was frequently ill and constantly expected death, but survived to be 60 years old.

Bradstreet’s Writing She wrote for herself, not for publication Because of the tendency of the Puritans to ostracize female intellectuals, Anne was hesitant to publish any of her poetry. In 1650, her brother-in-law, John Woodbridge, arranged for the publication in England of a collection of her scholarly poems, The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, By a Gentlewoman of Those Parts.  Generally considered to be the first collection of original poetry written in colonial America.  The book examined the rights of women to express themselves.

Bradstreet’s Writing Bradstreet’s later poems, such as “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” are more personal, expressing her feelings about the joys and difficulties of everyday Puritan life.  In one she wrote about her thoughts before giving birth.  In another, she wrote about the death of a grandchild.

Bradstreet’s Writing Her later poetry was published posthumously, and contained a much more well-developed poetic voice. Her Apologies, especially, dripped with sarcasm in her response to the male opinion of women in society. Anne was a radically feminist poet, challenging the banishing of women to the private sphere of life and questioning the idea of an unforgiving Puritan god.

Bradstreet’s Writing Bradstreet’s poetry reflects the Puritan’s knowledge of the stories and language of the Bible, as well as their concern for the relationship between earthly and heavenly life. Her work also exhibits some of the characteristics of the French and English poetry of her day. Bradstreet’s use of the personal and emotional subject of love is NOT typical of the Puritan Plain style of writing.