Introduces new readers and students to a celebrated and controversial Victorian novel-poem Michele Martinez guides readers through the poem's major themes and literary and socio-cultural contexts, introducing a range of interpretive frameworks. Long extracts from the poem are accompanied by helpful explanatory commentary. The text's composition history, major influences and modes of poetic expression are also discussed. The teaching and bibliographic chapters offer supplementary materials including print and internet resources. Key Features *Ideal guide for readers coming to the text for the first time, or teaching the text at University level * Fully contextualised and annotated sections of the poem * Detailed exploration of key themes: poetic vision; love and poetry; epistolary fiction; epic and society; motherhood and sexual transgression; poetry and prophecy * Innovative teaching suggestions * Advice and guidance for further reading