Reminiscences of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey

"Reminiscences of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey" by Joseph Cottle is a memoir that captures the lives of two famous English writers, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey, as seen through the eyes of Cottle. The book explores their friendship, thoughts, and the important happenings that influenced their writing careers. Cottle starts by thinking about his past experiences with Coleridge and Southey, setting a reflective tone for the story. He then introduces the ambitious idea of Pantisocracy, a plan to create a perfect community along the Susquehanna River. The story highlights the dreams and early challenges of Coleridge and Southey, along with others like Robert Lovell and George Burnet; who, while young and full of hope, wrestled with the practical difficulties of their grand plan. This sets the stage for a story of friendship, poetry, and personal struggles.