Anne Bradstreet, the most famous 17th century female poet, was only 18 when she arrived to Massachusetts Bay in 1630 on the Arbella. She was well educated while in England and reluctant to leave, however her family became eager to flee, as their country was increasingly hostile to critics of the Anglican Church. The voyage from England to America that took three long months was quite difficult, as many passengers died from numerous illnesses. Anne's new life was suddenly challenging, a drastic change from the elegant estate with its well-stocked library where Anne spent numerous hours. .
Anne and her prestigious family soon moved to Boston where her father and husband played a large role in the founding of Harvard University in 1636 (Gordon, 4). Charlotte Gordon's Mistress Bradstreet explains how unhappy Anne was with her new life in America, however she had no idea of the fame that lay ahead of her. Gordon states, "The excitement and good fortune lay hidden in the future, while the present consisted of a frightening new continent swathed in darkness. Nor did things improve, as the sun grew stronger" (10). However, Anne's life progressed with the birth of her eight children. Her domestic responsibilities were extremely demanding because of her children, therefore she spent a lot of time writing poetry, particularly about her religion and life issues. The Poetry Foundation explains states, "Her work reflects the religious and emotional conflicts she experienced as a woman writer and as a puritan. Throughout her life, Bradstreet was concerned with the issues of sin and redemption, physical and emotional frailty, death and immorality" (Wendy Martin, 1). .
One of Anne's famous poems, Verses Upon the Burning of our House, was written after a disastrous fire burned down the Bradstreets' house in 1666, which left them homeless. However, the most famous poem that Anne ever wrote, The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, was carried to England in a manuscript by her brother-in-law without her approval.
