Best Selling Books by Mary Howitt

An illustrated version of the well-known poem about a wily spider who preys on the vanity and innocence of a little fly.

The Poems of Mary Howitt gathers the work of one of the most characteristic poetic voices of the early Victorian period, a writer whose verse moves gracefully between moral reflection, domestic sentiment, children''s literature, and attentive celebrations of the natural world. Marked by clarity, musical ease, and a humane didacticism, these poems participate in the nineteenth-century culture of improvement while retaining freshness of feeling and vivid observation. Whether addressing childhood, rural life, or spiritual consolation, Howitt writes in a manner at once accessible and finely controlled, occupying a distinctive place within the broad tradition of women''s devotional and socially conscious poetry. Mary Howitt (1799–1888) was a prolific English author, translator, and poet closely connected to the literary and reforming circles of her age. Her Quaker background, commitment to education, and sustained engagement with family life, religion, and social feeling deeply informed her writing. Known also for her work for children and for translations from Scandinavian literature, Howitt brought to poetry a rare combination of moral seriousness, cosmopolitan curiosity, and domestic intimacy, qualities that help explain the breadth and endurance of her appeal. This volume is especially recommended to readers interested in Victorian literary culture, women''s writing, and the intersection of poetry with ethical instruction. It offers both historical richness and genuine lyrical charm, rewarding anyone who values poetry that unites tenderness, intelligence, and moral imagination.

Mary Howitt''s classic 19th Century poem, "The Spider and the Fly," warns its young readers against the danger of flattery and evil counsel. In her famous tale, the flitting Fly is overwhelmed by the cunning Spider, due in part to the Spider''s deception, but also because of the Fly''s own sins of vanity and naivety. The poem is told in an engaging rhyme and rhythm and is colorfully illustrated by Ukrainian artist Yelyzaveta Anysymova. This edition of Howitt''s tale of moral hazard is a great addition to any child''s bookshelf. Mary Howitt (1799-1888) was an English author of over 180 books, many written for children. Among her literary accomplishments were her translations of many tales by Hans Christian Andersen and her work as an editor on the Fisher''s Drawing Room Scrap Book. She was recognized and rewarded for her life''s work with a silver medal from the Literary Academy of Stockholm and a Civil List Pension from the United Kingdom. Yelyzaveta Anysymova is a self-taught children''s book artist from Ukraine. She draws inspiration from the people and beauty of her hometown of Zaporizhzhia.

Reprint of the original, first published in 1871.

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Reprint of the original, first published in 1864.