# The works of Mrs. Hemans, with a memoir by her sister

> book by Harriet Browne

**Wikidata**: [Q84820148](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q84820148)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-works-of-mrs-hemans-with-a-memoir-by-her-sister

## Summary
"The works of Mrs. Hemans, with a memoir by her sister" is a book authored by Harriet Browne, published in 1840, which compiles the writings of poet Felicia Hemans alongside a biographical memoir written by her sister. It serves as both a literary collection and a historical account of Hemans' life and work, available in English and accessible online through the Internet Archive.

## Key Facts
- **Author**: Harriet Browne.
- **Publication Year**: 1840.
- **Main Subject**: The life and works of poet Felicia Hemans.
- **Language**: English.
- **Instance Of**: Bibliography and written work.
- **Availability**: Digitized version accessible at [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/worksmrshemansw07hemagoog/page/n14/mode/2up).
- **Edition/Translation**: Associated with Wikidata entry Q84820151.

## FAQs
### Q: Who wrote "The works of Mrs. Hemans, with a memoir by her sister"?
A: The book was authored by Harriet Browne, who also wrote the included memoir about her sister, Felicia Hemans.

### Q: What is the main focus of this book?
A: It compiles the literary works of Felicia Hemans, a prominent 19th-century poet, alongside a biographical memoir providing personal and contextual insights into her life.

### Q: When was the book published?
A: The work was published in 1840, serving as an early compilation of Hemans' poetry and a contemporary account of her life.

## Why It Matters
This book is significant for preserving the literary legacy of Felicia Hemans, one of the most celebrated female poets of the 19th century, while offering a rare biographical perspective through her sister’s memoir. Published in 1840, it reflects the growing interest in women writers during the Romantic era and provides scholars with primary-source material for studying Hemans’ contributions to literature. Its digitization ensures accessibility for modern readers and researchers, bridging historical literary studies with contemporary academic inquiry. The inclusion of both poetry and memoir makes it a unique resource for understanding the intersection of personal experience and artistic output in Hemans’ career.

## Notable For
- **Memoir by a Family Member**: The biographical sketch by Harriet Browne offers intimate insights into Felicia Hemans’ life, distinguishing it from other literary compilations.
- **Comprehensive Compilation**: The work gathers Hemans’ poetry into a cohesive collection, highlighting her prolific output and thematic range.
- **Historical Context for Women Writers**: It exemplifies the challenges and achievements of female authors in the 19th century, contributing to studies of gender and literature.
- **Digital Accessibility**: The availability of a free, digitized version promotes broader engagement with Hemans’ work and 19th-century literary history.

## Body
### Publication Context
Published in 1840, *The works of Mrs. Hemans, with a memoir by her sister* was compiled during a period of heightened interest in Romantic-era poetry. The book reflects the literary tastes of the time, which celebrated lyrical verse and the exploration of themes such as nature, morality, and national identity. Harriet Browne’s role as both author and sibling to Felicia Hemans lent the memoir a personal authenticity, though it adheres to the conventions of 19th-century biographical writing.

### Content Overview
The volume includes:
- **Poetic Works**: A curated selection of Hemans’ poetry, showcasing her technical skill and thematic preoccupations with domestic life, history, and spirituality.
- **Biographical Memoir**: Harriet Browne’s account traces Hemans’ life, emphasizing her literary career, personal struggles, and reputation as a "woman poet" in a male-dominated field.
- **Historical Framing**: The memoir contextualizes Hemans’ writing within broader social and cultural movements, such as the rise of the middle class and the expansion of literacy.

### Historical Significance
As a bibliography—a systematic catalog of written works—this book contributes to the academic study of literature by documenting Hemans’ oeuvre. Its publication in 1840, shortly after Hemans’ death in 1835, helped solidify her posthumous reputation and influenced later critical assessments of her place in literary history. The inclusion of a memoir by a family member also raises questions about the interplay between biography and literary criticism, a topic of ongoing scholarly debate.

### Accessibility and Legacy
The digitized version hosted by the Internet Archive (linked above) ensures the book’s availability to global audiences, supporting research in Romantic literature, women’s studies, and the history of publishing. This accessibility underscores the work’s enduring relevance, particularly for projects focused on recovering and reevaluating the contributions of underrecognized writers. The memoir’s perspective, while reflective of 19th-century biases, remains a valuable primary source for understanding Hemans’ contemporaneous reception and the social dynamics shaping her career.