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"Black Lord Herbert" and the Construction of Race.

The article examines the often-overlooked poetry of Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury, particularly his sonnets "Sonnet of Black Beauty" and "Another Sonnet to Black Itself." Topics include the relationship between Herbert's poems and the "dark lady" tradition, the representation of blackness as both...

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Published in:Studies in Philology Vol. 122; no. 1; pp. 81 - 99
Main Author: Graham, Jean E.
Format: Poetry Review
Published: University of North Carolina Press Winter2025
Subjects:
Sonnet
Sonnet of Black Beauty (Poem : Herbert)
Herbert of Cherbury, Edward Herbert, Baron, 1583-1648
Color
Race identity
Folklore
17th century (Literary period)
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:The article examines the often-overlooked poetry of Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury, particularly his sonnets "Sonnet of Black Beauty" and "Another Sonnet to Black Itself." Topics include the relationship between Herbert's poems and the "dark lady" tradition, the representation of blackness as both a color and an identity; and the potential implications of associating blackness with Welsh heritage rather than solely racial identity.