"Upon reading Schofield's illuminating book on Sara's literary vocation as a religious author, it is simultaneously surprising and not that few scholars have taken up a study of Sara's religious writings. ... Schofield has brought Sara's later religious writings to life as part of a lively Victorian religious debate that future scholars will find helpful as an introduction to Sara's later work. This carefully researched book lays the groundwork for future study of Sara's religious writings, especially her unpublished Dialogues." (Anastasia Stelse, The Coleridge Bulletin, Issue 54, 2019)
"The book's strength lies in its ability to perform close analysis on a number of Coleridge's little-known and understudied works, combining this with a study of early-nineteenth-century religion. ... Schofield's book is a catalyst for future research, and demonstrates that further study of Coleridge's life, letters and predominantly her works would be welcome." (Amy Wilcockson, The BARS Review, Issue 53, 2019)
1. Introduction: Sara Coleridge and the Contexts of Authorship.- 2. Towards a Vocation of Religious Authorship: Collaboration and Dialogue, 1818–1837.- 3. ‘On Rationalism’: ‘The Authoritative Word’ and ‘Liberty of Conscience’.- 4. Biographia 1847: Plagiarism, Literary Property and Dialogic Authorship.- 5. The Theory and Practice of Polemical Writing: Religious Authorship, 1847–1849.- 6. Authorial Vocation and Literary Innovation, 1850–1851.- 7. Conclusion: Public Renewal, Personal Redemption.
Robin Schofield read English at Lincoln College, Oxford, UK, before working as a school teacher. He obtained his PhD from Oxford Brookes University, UK.