Esther Nelson (1810–1843) was a Manx poet best remembered for her book, ''Island Minstrelsy''. She was born in 1810'Nineteenth-century Literature in English relating to the Isle of Man' by Ulla Corkhill, in "A New History of the Isle of Man: The Modern Period, 1830–1999, Vol. V“ ed. John Belchem, Liverpool, Liverpool University Press, 2000, pp. 323–331 (extract available o
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and baptised in

Jurby Jurby ( on, djúra-bý – deer settlement - animal park) () is one of the seventeen parishes of the Isle of Man. It is located in the north-west of the island (part of the traditional ''North Side'' division) in the sheading of Michael. Local ...

on 6 June. She was the daughter of John Nelson, a vicar in three Manx parish churches: Jurby (1803–1818), Santon (1818–1830) and

Bride A bride is a woman who is about to be married or who is newlywed. When marrying, the bride's future spouse, (if male) is usually referred to as the ''bridegroom'' or just ''groom''. In Western culture, a bride may be attended by a maid, brides ...

(1830–1847). In 1838 she lived in Douglas'Esther Nelson'
on www.manxliterature.com but had returned to the family home at the

rectory A clergy house is the residence, or former residence, of one or more priests or ministers of religion. Residences of this type can have a variety of names, such as manse, parsonage, rectory or vicarage. Function A clergy house is typically ow ...

at Bride by the following year, when she wrote the dedication of her book of poems, ''Island Minstrelsy'' at the age of 29: 'To her island home, the authoress affectionately dedicates the first and simple effusions of an island heart.' In 1841 Nelson took a trip to Paris, apparently for health reasons, but she returned to the Isle of Man where she died of tuberculosis on Tuesday 21 March 1843, at the age of 33, in her family home at the rectory at

. Nelson was a well-respected poet during her lifetime, often writing under the pen names "The Island Minstrel" or "Hadassah", the latter of which was given to her by G. H. Wood, a gentleman poet notable for having helped guard

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

Saint Helena Saint Helena () is a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a remote volcanic tropical island west of the coast of south-western Africa, and east of Rio de Janeiro in South America. It is one of three constitu ...

.''A Book of Manx Poetry''
by

William Cubbon William Cubbon M.A. (28 May 1865 – 1 January 1955) was a Manx nationalist, antiquarian, author, businessman and librarian who was the first secretary of the Manx Museum, later becoming Director of the Museum.''Isle of Man Examiner Yearbook ...

, Douglas: Manx Language Society, 1913 Nelson's work continued to be highly regarded after her death, most notably by the Manx national poet, T. E. Brown, who wrote that:

We should not forget that true woman of genius. Hester Nelson. Often I think of her, and her early doom; and Bride seems to me a shrine of splendid promise and aspirations unfulfilled save in God... My father thought very highly of her poems. Some he thought worthy of
Milton Milton may refer to: Names * Milton (surname), a surname (and list of people with that surname) ** John Milton (1608–1674), English poet * Milton (given name) ** Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Nobel laureate in Economics, author of '' Free t ...
. And that was all breathed in and bred from your Bride hills, and the long stretches of the
Ayre Ayre ( ; gv, Inver Ayre) is one of the six sheadings of the Isle of Man. It is located in the north of the island (part of the traditional ''North Side'' division) and consists of the three historic parishes of Andreas, Bride and (Kirk Christ ...
.

The poems of ''Island Minstrelsey'' have been described as ranging "from long narrative poems of revenge, murder and heart-break, to short contemplations of mortality, the passage of time and the fragility of happiness. They poems circle around the central idea of the inevitability of the loss of happiness and innocence in the onslaught of 'that grim spoiler, Time'." This side to her work shows in the book's recurring concern with death, as is demonstrated with titles such as 'The Suicide', 'My Brother's Grave', 'The Dying Girl' and 'To the Dead'. Her most well-renowned poem is 'The Carrasdhoo Men', which told the story of a legendary group of Manx bandits. Her poetry also displays a great Manx patriotism, often heightened through her selection of historical themes. The following example comes from 'Song of the Absent', which featured in William Cubbon's 1913 book, ''A Book of Manx Poetry'':

Isle of my heart,
Mona! the lone! the wild! the unforgot!
My home! thou art
The star, the idol of a wayward lot --
Earth cannot bring
One dearer vision to me than thy face,
Time cannot bring
Forgetfulness! affection mocks at space.‘Song of the Absent’ by Esther Nelson, i
''A Book of Manx Poetry''
by William Cubbon, Douglas: Manx Language Society, 1913

References

External links

''Island Minstrelsey''
available from www.manxliterature.com {{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Esther Manx poets Manx nationalists Culture of the Isle of Man 1810 births 1843 deaths Manx women poets 19th-century British poets 19th-century British women writers 19th-century deaths from tuberculosis Tuberculosis deaths in the United Kingdom