Coventry Patmore
The Angel in the House
"The Angel in the House" by Coventry Patmore is a narrative poem first published in 1854 and expanded until 1862. The work chronicles Felix Vaughan's courtship of Honoria Churchill through short lyrics and reflections on ideal femininity, set against a rival suitor's pursuit. Later installments follow the rejected suitor's struggle to overcome his lingering feelings and find devotion to his own wife. The poem became culturally significant for defining Victorian feminine ideals and the doctrine of separate spheres, later attracting feminist critique for its depiction of submissive, selfless womanhood.