Letter to Christina Rossetti, 8 November 1853 DGR 1 University of British Columbia. Letter to Christina Rossetti, 8 November 1853 DGR 1853 November 8 letter DGR University of British Columbia library Commentary
Introduction

The sonnet “Mac Craken” is added at the end of DGR's letter, along with his copy of Tennyson's poem, both of which are cancelled through in the manuscipt (though by whom is uncertain). The letter was first published in WMR's <hi rend="i">Family Letters</hi> , where the text of both Tennyson's poem and DGR's parody are also printed.

Textual History: Composition

Textual History: Revision

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Pictorial

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Translation

Autobiographical

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Mac Cracken — by D G Rossetti Getting his pictures, like his supper, cheap, Far, far away in Belfast by the sea, His watchful one-eyed uninvaded sleep Mac Cracken sleepeth. While the PRB Must keep the shady side, he walks a swell Through spungings of perennial growth & height: And far away in Belfast—out of sight, By many an open do and secret sell, Fresh daubers he makes shift to scarify, And fleece with pliant shears the slumbering green. There he has lied, though aged, & will lie, Fattening on ill-got pictures in his sleep, Till some Prę-Raphael prove for him too deep. Then once by Hunt & Ruskin to be seen, Insolvent he shall turn & in the Queen's Bench die.