Michael Field

Poetry

• It Was Deep April, and the Morn

Biography

Michael Field was a unique and influential figure in the landscape of Victorian literature, not merely for the work produced but also due to the intriguing personal story behind the name. The pseudonym "Michael Field" was used by Katharine Bradley and her niece Edith Cooper, a collaboration unparalleled in English literature. Born on October 27, 1846, in Birmingham, England, Katharine Bradley was raised in a cultured family and received a comprehensive education, including studies at the Collège de France in Paris. Her niece, Edith Cooper, born on December 12, 1862, in Staffordshire, England, was also her student and shared her aunt's deep passion for literature and arts.

The partnership of Bradley and Cooper began in the 1880s, choosing to write under the male pseudonym "Michael Field" in order to navigate the male-dominated literary world of the Victorian era. This decision was strategic, allowing them to avoid the prejudices of the time against female authors and ensuring their work was judged on its own merits. As Michael Field, they produced a body of work renowned for its lyrical intensity and emotional depth, frequently exploring themes of love, beauty, nature, and the classical world. Their poetry and plays often delved into complex emotional and psychological states, blending historical awareness with personal experience. Notably, their work was characterized by passionate intensity and frequently explored homoerotic themes, a daring move for their time.

Among their notable works are "Callirrhoë," a verse drama published in 1884 that received critical acclaim, "Long Ago," a collection of lyrical poems inspired by the Greek poet Sappho published in 1889, and "Underneath the Bough," a 1893 collection that includes some of their most personal and intense poetry. The relationship between Bradley and Cooper was extraordinarily close, extending beyond family ties into a deep emotional and intellectual partnership that was clearly reflected in their poetry and diaries.

The later years of their collaboration were marked by personal grief, particularly following the death of their beloved pet dog Whym Chow, which profoundly affected both poets. Cooper's "The Life of Whym Chow: Flame of Love" stands as a poignant tribute to this loss. Katharine Bradley passed away on September 26, 1914, and Edith Cooper died just a few months later on December 13, 1913, her death hastened by the deep grief she felt over her aunt's passing.

The legacy of Michael Field is now increasingly recognized in Victorian literature, especially in the context of women's writing and LGBTQ literature. Their work, which was once overlooked, has gained renewed interest and appreciation, underscoring their significant contributions to English poetry and drama and their role in challenging and transcending the societal norms of their era. The story of Michael Field is not just a tale of literary collaboration, but also a narrative of breaking barriers and defying conventions, making their mark in the annals of literary history.