16 pages • 32 minutes read
Anne BradstreetTo My Dear and Loving Husband
Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1678A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Further Reading & Resources
Related Poems
“A Letter to her Husband, absent upon Publick employment” by Anne Bradstreet (1678)
This is another love poem by Bradstreet for her husband, forming an interesting companion piece for “To My Dear and Loving Husband.” Bradstreet describes her longing for her husband while he is away from home, using some of the same tropes featured in “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” such as the emphasis on interconnected companionship and the spiritual dimension of true love.
“The Author to Her Book” by Anne Bradstreet (1678)
The prefatory poem “The Author to Her Book” first appeared in the second, posthumous printing of Bradstreet’s collection The Tenth Muse in 1678. In the poem, Bradstreet addresses her “book” (i.e., her poetry collection) directly as though it were a child, and she humorously reflects upon her insecurities and possible flaws as a writer. It is one of Bradstreet’s most famous poems.
“By Night When Others Soundly Slept” by Anne Bradstreet (1678)
This poem is a window into the spiritual side of Bradstreet’s life and work, reflecting her strong Puritan beliefs. Pondering her direct communion with Jesus, Bradstreet describes her connection to “[her] Saviour” (Line 13) as both deeply personal and sustaining.
Further Literary Resources
“Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672)” by the Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation’s author page for Bradstreet provides an accessible introductory overview of her life and work. The page also features links to full-text versions of some of her major poems, as well as materials related to Bradstreet’s historical and literary context.
“Podcast: Becoming Anne Bradstreet” by the Poetry Foundation (2012)
In this 2012 podcast by the Poetry Foundation, host Curtis Fox speaks with Irish poet and Stanford academic Eavan Boland about Bradstreet’s life and work. They discuss her poetry’s context and literary merits, with Boland also sharing Bradstreet’s influence upon her own writing. Both the audio file and a full transcript of the interview are available on the same page.
“Colonial America: The Puritans” by History.com (2009)
The editors of History.com offer an introduction to the historical and religious context of Puritanism in the United States. The article is succinct but clear, providing a starting point for further research. It covers such topics as the origins of the Puritan movement, the nature of Puritanical religious beliefs, and the Puritans’ lives in the North American settlements.
“Women’s History Month: Female Authors of the 17th Century” by Savannah Swanson (2022)
In this article written in celebration of Women’s History Month in 2022, Savannah Swanson takes a look at some of the major female writers of the 17th century, including Bradstreet. The article will be a useful resource for any reader wishing to learn more about Bradstreet’s female literary contemporaries, including Aphra Behn in England and Madame de La Fayette in France.
Listen to Poem
In this recording for the Poetry Foundation, Laura Marks’s reading is clear, measured, and carefully paced, making it easy for the listener to follow along.
Related Titles
By Anne Bradstreet
