1. Context and Publication

• Robert Bloomfield (1766–1823) was a well-known poet, celebrated especially for his pastoral works like “The Farmer’s Boy”, which depicted rural life and the lives of common people in England. His works were popular during his lifetime, but by the time of his death, his reputation had begun to fade somewhat.
• After his passing, the family, in collaboration with the publisher Baldwin, Cradock, and Joy, produced this posthumous collection to preserve and share his literary legacy. The collection was printed by Thomas Davison at his Whitefriars printing house, which was well-regarded for producing high-quality books.
• The publication was aimed at benefitting Bloomfield’s family, likely in recognition of the financial difficulties he faced throughout his life. Given that Bloomfield had been a working-class poet, often struggling financially, this publication was a means of both honoring his memory and providing for his loved ones.

2. Contents of Volume 1

• The first volume of the two-part collection includes poems, letters, and biographical details that reflect Bloomfield’s personal and professional life. It features a selection of poems that were previously unpublished, as well as additional works that may have been considered lesser-known during his lifetime.
• The biographical materials often include letters and memoirs written by those who knew him or edited his works. These provide insights into Bloomfield’s life, struggles, and aspirations, presenting him as a poet deeply connected to the rural English landscape and the lives of the working class.
• The volume was designed to offer both literary and personal aspects of Bloomfield’s life, with particular attention to his poetic style, which often focused on nature, agriculture, and the dignity of labor.

3. Purpose and Audience

• The collection was intended to honor Robert Bloomfield’s memory and preserve his work for future generations. At the same time, it aimed to provide for his family by offering a work that could generate income for them after his death. It was therefore published with a sense of personal legacy attached, rather than being a commercial endeavor for the publisher.
• As such, Volume 1 would have appealed to literary scholars, fans of Bloomfield’s poetry, and those interested in the social context of Romantic poetry. The work would have also been of interest to those studying posthumous publications and the history of literary estates.

4. Content of the Poems

• As with Bloomfield’s earlier works, much of the poetry in the collection centers around the natural world, rural life, and the struggles of the working class. His work often focused on the humble and everyday lives of laborers, portraying them with a deep sense of empathy and respect.
• The poems in this collection showcase Bloomfield’s plain style of writing, using simple, vivid imagery to evoke the beauty of the countryside and the hardships of labor. While much of his earlier fame rested on works like “The Farmer’s Boy”, the poems in “The Remains” provide further insights into his evolving style and themes.

5. The Legacy of Bloomfield’s Work

• The collection helps preserve the cultural importance of Bloomfield’s contributions to English poetry, particularly his focus on the rural and working-class experience during the Romantic era. While Bloomfield’s reputation waned after his death, the publication of these remains has helped to restore his significance as a poet who connected deeply with the struggles of everyday life.
• The posthumous publication also highlights the economic realities of a poet’s life in the 19th century, where financial stability often came only after death, with posthumous editions helping to support surviving family members.

6. Volume 1: Structure

• Introduction and Memoir: A brief memoir of Bloomfield, often written by his editor or those close to him, serves as an introduction to his life, struggles, and achievements.
• Poems: The first volume includes several of Bloomfield’s poems not previously published. These might include shorter pieces, fragments, or works that were unfinished or considered lesser-known during his lifetime.
• Letters: The volume also contains letters that give personal insights into Bloomfield’s thoughts, literary influences, and relationships with other poets and figures of his time.

7. Importance and Influence

• Although Robert Bloomfield is often overshadowed by more famous contemporaries such as William Wordsworth or Samuel Taylor Coleridge, his contribution to Romantic rural poetry remains significant. His depiction of agricultural life and the hardships of rural labor presented a view of the working-class experience that was both compassionate and deeply connected to the land.
• “The Remains” is a crucial document in understanding Bloomfield’s legacy and influence on English pastoral poetry, offering readers and scholars a chance to explore a poet whose work provided a bridge between the popular literary movements of the 18th and 19th centuries.