Professor Publishes Exploration of Literary Loneliness

On Wednesday, the Center for Humanistic Inquiry (CHI) hosted a book launch for Associate Professor of English Amelia Worsley’s “Singing by Herself: Lonely Poets in the Long 18th Century.” The event featured a panel discussion with Sophie Gee, associate professor of English at Princeton University; Kate Singer, Mary Lyon professor of humanities at Mount Holyoke College; and Courtney Weiss Smith, associate professor of English and science in society at Wesleyan University.

Worsley — who began by welcoming attendees and expressing gratitude to the co-panelists, her colleagues from the English Department, and her Gregory Call academic interns —  introduced the book as an exploration of literary loneliness through a gendered lens. In “Singing by Herself,” Worsley reinterprets the rise of literary loneliness by focusing on the overlooked female and feminized figures who were central to the early use of the words “lonely” and “loneliness” in British literature. These solitaries, often framed as figures of complaint, played a key role in shaping future understandings of poetic solitude.

This analysis reveals how these feminized solitaries, who occupied dangerous and productive spaces, made loneliness not just a theme of suspicion but an appealing mode of expression for future poets. The book takes readers through five chapters that focus on key works by John Milton, Anne Finch, Alexander Pope, Thomas Gray, and Charlotte Smith, highlighting how poets in the 18th century began to associate loneliness with concepts of disembodiment and poly-vocality.

At the launch, the speakers engaged in a wide-ranging discussion on the broader implications of Worsley’s work. Gee praised the book’s fresh perspective on literary loneliness, while Singer and Smith discussed its relevance to ongoing studies of gender and emotion in literary history.

During the discussion, Gee delved into the concept of the soul in John Milton’s “Paradise Lost,” highlighting how Milton’s portrayal of the soul’s journey reflects the era’s complex views on solitude and the self. Singer appreciated the book’s comprehensive literary analysis, noting that it transcends traditional interpretations of 17th- and 18th-century poetry. She remarked, “Maybe this is too emo, but echo is a laugh too,” suggesting that the book’s exploration of solitary female retreats adds a nuanced layer to understanding poetic expressions of loneliness.