Plot Summary

The Prelude

William Wordsworth
Guide cover placeholder

The Prelude

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1799

Book Brief

William Wordsworth

The Prelude

Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 1799
Book Details
Pages

200

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

England • 18th century

Publication Year

1799

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The Prelude by William Wordsworth is an 1850 autobiographical poem in blank verse, which traces the poet's development from childhood to adulthood, exploring his formative experiences in England's Lake District, his education at Cambridge, his interactions with the French Revolution, and his eventual return to nature to reflect on the importance of imagination and memory.

Contemplative

Nostalgic

Inspirational

Serene

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

3.5

4,008 ratings

66%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

The Prelude by William Wordsworth is lauded for its profound introspection and sublime reflection on nature, tracing the poet's own spiritual and artistic growth. While some readers find its language dense and narrative meandering, the vivid imagery and emotional depth resonate deeply, solidifying its status as a seminal work in Romantic literature.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Prelude?

Readers who cherish introspective and nature-centric poetry, as well as fans of Romantic literature, will enjoy William Wordsworth's The Prelude. Comparable to Samuel Taylor Coleridge's Biographia Literaria and John Keats's Endymion, this autobiographical piece appeals to those who appreciate contemplative journeys and poetic exploration of self.

3.5

4,008 ratings

66%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

11%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

200

Format

Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction

Setting

England • 18th century

Publication Year

1799

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Buy This Book

We’re just getting started

Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!