[1] Thomas Day was a singular character: an abolitionist, socialist, republican, campaigner for clean air and land reclamation, and hugely popular writer of children's fiction.

Unusually, however, her husband insisted that she retain control over her own finances in case she ever tired of their ascetic style of life.

Esther Day had no children, and Thomas Lowndes (born c. 1766), her deceased sister Elizabeth's son, was treated by the couple as their heir.

"[5] The collection is dedicated to "the fair females of the British Isles," whom the editor reassures that with appropriate education, they would no doubt surpass men.

In the "apology" which precedes Esther Day's work, Lowndes's comments informs us that the poems were written when she was between eleven and fifteen.