Well-Kept Secrets: The Story of William Wordsworth

Well-Kept Secrets: The Story of William Wordsworth by Andrew Wordsworth (Pallas Athene Books, £24.95)
Written by a descendent of the poet, Well-Kept Secrets is a lively biography of William Wordsworth. Woven through with lines of poetry, it’s a study of Wordsworth’s life and works, neither of which, writes Andrew Wordsworth in his introduction, should be considered separately. As he tries to make sense of his enigmatic ancestor, Andrew Wordsworth doesn’t shy away from the less appealing aspects of the poet’s personality. The ‘well-kept secrets’ of the title refer to his illegitimate daughter, and to his intense relationship with his sister Dorothy. Wordsworth junior has been captivated by his ancestor since the age of six, when his great-aunt gave him a chest that belonged to him. The end result is a deeply personal book, which is also a thorough and engaging portrait of one of Britain’s best-loved poets.