Christina Rossetti

Christina Georgina Rossetti (1830-1894) was a distinguished English poet renowned for her lyrical and devotional poetry. Born in London into an artistic and literary family, she was the youngest child of Italian poet Gabriele Rossetti and Frances Polidori. Her siblings included the famous Pre-Raphaelite painter and poet Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Christina's early life was marked by bouts of illness and a strong religious faith, both of which would profoundly influence her work.

She began writing poetry in her teens, and by the age of 18, she had her first poem published. Her most famous collection, "Goblin Market and Other Poems" (1862), gained her immediate critical acclaim and established her as one of the foremost female poets of her time. Characterized by rich imagery and deep emotion, her works frequently explored themes of love, loss, faith, and the natural world.

Despite several marriage proposals, Christina never married, citing religious reasons. Her deep Anglo-Catholic beliefs permeated her life and work. Throughout her life, she also contributed to the care of her ailing mother and was involved in charitable work. Christina Rossetti's poetry continues to be celebrated for its musicality and spiritual depth, maintaining her status as a significant figure in Victorian literature.