During the height of the suffragette movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, poetry played a vital—though often underappreciated—role in both articulating protest and nurturing solidarity. While much attention is given to marches, arrests, and political speeches, the era was also rich with verse: lyrical, angry, hopeful, and deeply personal. Poetry was not… Read More voices of defiance: poetry in the suffragette movement
Artist: George Frederic WattsDate: Circa 1848–1850Medium: Oil on canvasLocation: Tate Britain, LondonDimensions: 864 × 508 mm About the Painting Found Drowned portrays the lifeless body of a young woman washed up under a bridge in the River Thames. The setting is dark and desolate. The figure lies draped in wet, clinging fabric. A faint city… Read More found drowned (1848-1850) – george frederic watts
In an age marked by rapid technological change, global unrest, and a persistent ache for meaning, the voice of the poet feels more urgent than ever. We live in a time where artificial intelligence writes headlines, climate disasters displace millions, and war is no longer history; it is livestreamed. Amongst all of this, the poet… Read More the modern-day poet: speaking light into a darkened world
The Industrial Revolution, beginning in the late 18th century, transformed the fabric of society, bringing about unprecedented advances in machinery, urbanisation, and economic growth. But beneath the hum of steam engines and the rise of smokestacks, poets heard something else: the wail of displaced workers, the mechanisation of the human spirit, and the loss of… Read More poetry and the industrial revolution: verse against the machine
I am drawn to poetry in all its forms, whether a simple quote, a line of spoken word, or a verse that breaks free from convention. Poetry speaks to me with an immediacy and emotional force that few other mediums can match. Words hold power, and I am especially intrigued by how poetry has long… Read More Poetry and revolution: the voice of fire in the human heart
In the turbulent landscape of 19th-century Britain, Chartism emerged as the first mass political movement driven by the working class. Between 1838 and 1857, millions of people rallied behind the People’s Charter, demanding sweeping political reforms including universal male suffrage, secret ballots, and parliamentary representation for all. Yet while Chartism was rooted in economic hardship… Read More Chartism and the poetry of shelley: revolution in words and deeds
Rachel Bakewell 