Edward Slow facts for kids

Edward Slow (born August 27, 1841 – died February 16, 1925) was a poet from Wilton, Wiltshire, England. He worked as a carriage builder. Edward Slow wrote many poems and short stories. These were based on what he saw every day in the countryside during the Victorian and Edwardian times. He liked to call his poems 'rhymes'. They were written to sound like the local Wiltshire accent.

Edward Slow's Life

Edward Slow was the youngest of at least four children. His mother was a silk weaver in Wilton. His father passed away when Edward was eight years old. Edward went to Wilton Free School. After school, he became an apprentice to a coach-builder in Salisbury. An apprentice learns a trade by working with an expert.

Later, Edward Slow returned to Wilton. There, he started his own business building carriages. He sold this business in the 1890s. After selling his business, he retired for 30 years. During this time, he became involved in local politics and continued his writing. He was even the Mayor of Wilton in 1892 and again in 1905.

Edward Slow's Poetry

Edward Slow discovered his talent for writing at a Harvest Supper. He was asked to write something for the event in nearby Burcombe. His poem was very popular. People bought copies, which encouraged him to write more.

His first collection of poems was called Poems in the Wiltshire Dialect. It was published in 1867 by Frederick Blake in Salisbury. After Blake died in 1892, R. R. Edwards, also from Salisbury, published Slow's work. Edward Slow also wrote some prose, which is like regular writing, not poetry. His fourth book included a list of Wiltshire dialect words. He also helped the English Dialect Society.

His biggest book was Humorous West Countrie Tales. It was published in 1899. This book was a collection of funny stories and jokes. He had gathered these from local people or experienced them himself. Slow's poetry gives us a look into the daily lives of people in the countryside. He wrote with a sharp, funny, and observant style.

Examples of His Work

Here are some examples of Edward Slow's poems. They show his unique style and use of the Wiltshire dialect.