Elizabeth Hands
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Hands was an English poet
. Of humble background, she grew up as a domestic servant near Coventry
. By 1785 she was married to a blacksmith
from whom she acquired the surname "Hands" (her maiden name is unknown). They lived in the area of Rugby
. She gave birth to at least one child, but other information concerning her family is unknown.
Hands had to persevere to get her poetry published, and believed it was near-miraculous that she had eventually been able to do so. She speaks appreciatively of the overwhelming support of her friends in the introduction of her book The Death of Amnon (1789). Some of her verse is satirical in tone; "A Poem, on the Supposition of an Advertisement Appearing in a Morning Paper, of the Publication of a Volume of Poems, by a Servant-Maid" depicts those who dismissed her literary efforts on account of her social status:
Hands's published poems include:
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
. Of humble background, she grew up as a domestic servant near Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
. By 1785 she was married to a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
from whom she acquired the surname "Hands" (her maiden name is unknown). They lived in the area of Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
. She gave birth to at least one child, but other information concerning her family is unknown.
Hands had to persevere to get her poetry published, and believed it was near-miraculous that she had eventually been able to do so. She speaks appreciatively of the overwhelming support of her friends in the introduction of her book The Death of Amnon (1789). Some of her verse is satirical in tone; "A Poem, on the Supposition of an Advertisement Appearing in a Morning Paper, of the Publication of a Volume of Poems, by a Servant-Maid" depicts those who dismissed her literary efforts on account of her social status:
- 'A servant write verses!' says Madame du Bloom
- 'Pray what is the subject – a Mop or a Broom?'
- 'He, he, he,' says Miss Flounce: 'I suppose we shall see
- An Ode on a Dishclout – what else can it be?'
Hands's published poems include:
- Perplexity: A Poem
- On the Author's Lying-In, August, 1785
- On An Unsociable Family
- The Widower's Courtship