Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

"My Beautiful Lady. Nelly Dale" by Thomas Woolner was initially a single poem that was then extended into a full narrative text and released at the end of the 19th century. Woolner, in fact, was a sculptor and poet. Thus, his words are beautifully crafted and portray imagery that is unlike that of many other writers at his time.

Professor Thomas Woolner (1825-1892) was an English sculptor and poet. Born in Hadleigh, Suffolk he was a founder-member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Woolner trained with the sculptor William Behnes, exhibiting work at the Royal Academy from 1843. Woolner's classical inclinations were rather difficult to reconcile with Pre- Raphaelite Medievalism, but his belief in close observation of nature was consistent with their aims. Woolner's sculptures immediately after the foundation of the Brotherhood in 1848 display close attention to detail. He made his name with forceful portrait busts and medallions, but was at first unable to make a living. He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1875 and served as professor of sculpture from 1877 to 1879. Woolner was also a poet of some reputation in his day. His early poem My Beautiful Lady (1866) is a Pre-Raphaelite work, emphasising intense unresolved moments of feeling. His later narrative works, Pygmalion, Silenus and Tiresius renounce Pre-Raphaelitism in favour of an often eroticised classicism.