Anne Bradstreet

BIOGRAPHY

In 1612 Anne Bradstreet was born in Northampton, England and her parents were Thomas Dudley and Dorothy Yorke. At the age of 16, Anne married Simon Bradstreet, a 25 year old assistant in the Massachusetts Bay Company and the son of a Puritan minister, who had been in the care of the Dudleys since the death of his father.
Anne and her family emigrated to America in 1630 on the Arabella, one of the first ships to bring Puritans to New England in hopes of setting up plantation colonies. The journey was difficult; many perished during the three month journey, unable to cope with the harsh climate and poor living conditions, as sea squalls rocked the vessel, and scurvy brought on by malnutrition claimed their lives. Anne, who was a well educated girl, tutored in history, several languages and literature, was ill prepared for such rigorous travel, and would find the journey very difficult.
Bradstreet was one of the first female poems writers at this time. Although women were not allowed to publish their opinions, she was very brave and continued writing. In her poems she describes how her life was, mentions problems like poor living conditions and she points out that women often felt at an disadvantage. She also tells the reader about diffult moments on her journeys.


"To My Dear and Loving Husband"

This is my favorite quotation:

"Thy love is such I can no way repay, The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray. Then while we live, in love let's so persevere. That when we live no more, we may live ever."

from: http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Bradstreet/bradhyp.htm