The Della Cruscans - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
The Della Cruscans, a fleeting yet fiery phenomenon in late 18th-century English poetry, refers to a circle of British and Anglo-Italian writers whose flamboyant, sentimental style ignited both fervent admiration and scathing critique. Often dismissed as excessively ornate and emotionally overwrought, the Della Cruscans, named after the Florentine academy Accademia della Crusca, challenge conventional understanding of literary taste and societal anxieties of their time.
The genesis of this literary coterie can be traced to Florence in the 1780s, where a group of expatriate writers, including Robert Merry, Bertie Greatheed, and Hester Thrale Piozzi, gathered under the banner of refined sensibility. Correspondence from this period, particularly Merry's letters, reveals a shared ambition to break free from the perceived constraints of traditional Neoclassical verse. Their move to England marked the beginning of their public presence, coinciding with a period of burgeoning print culture and intense political debate surrounding the French Revolution.
Upon their arrival in England, the Della Cruscans quickly gained notoriety through publications in The World newspaper, using pseudonyms like "Della Crusca" (Merry) and "Anna Matilda" (Hannah Cowley). Their poems, characterized by elaborate metaphors, alliteration, and a heightened emotional tone, captivated a segment of the reading public hungry for novelty. However, their success was short-lived. William Gifford, in his satirical poem The Baviad (1791) and The Maeviad (1795), launched a vitriolic attack on their style, accusing them of affectation and triviality. This criticism, amplified by other contemporary reviewers, effectively dismantled their reputation, relegating them to the footnotes of literary history. Yet, questions linger: Did the Della Cruscans deserve such harsh condemnation, or were they scapegoats for deeper anxieties about gender, class, and the changing landscape of literary authority?
While largely absent from mainstream literary discourse, the Della Cruscans continue to provoke intrigue. Some scholars argue that their experimentation with language and emotion paved the way for later Romantic poets. Their story serves as a potent reminder of the fickle nature of literary fame and the enduring power of critical reception. Were they simply purveyors of ephemeral fashion, or did their vibrant, albeit flawed, verse capture something essential about the tumultuous spirit of their age, a spirit that continues to whisper from the margins of history?