This biography investigates the life and intellectual contributions of Dorothy Wordsworth, examining her role as a writer and the primary influence on her brother, William Wordsworth. Ernest de Selincourt, a renowned scholar of the Romantic period, utilizes Dorothy's journals and personal correspondence to reconstruct her daily existence and creative output. The text argues that her observational precision and emotional depth were foundational to the development of English Romanticism, positioning her as a significant literary figure in her own right rather than merely a companion to her brother.

Scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the domestic realities of the Romantic era. While some modern readers note the formal, academic tone of the prose, it remains a standard reference for those studying the life of Dorothy Wordsworth.