The Shadow of the Rock, and Other Poems

This 1873 poetry anthology, edited by Rev. E. H. Bickersteth, collects Christian devotional verse primarily for English readership. The volume draws from American selections, including works by Scottish hymn-writer Horatius Bonar ("Upward," "Homewards"), English poet Adelaide A. Procter ("The Way Is Long and Dreary"), and Charlotte Elliott ("The Sinner's Friend"), alongside unsigned contributions. The poems employ conventional Victorian religious imagery: pilgrims seeking rest in "The Shadow of the Rock," souls ascending heavenward, and the death of martyrs transitioning peacefully to eternal life. Themes emphasize submission to God's will, endurance through earthly suffering, and the promise of heavenly rest. The editor retained successful American selections while replacing certain pieces deemed defective and adding English compositions, though authorship frequently remains uncertain due to incomplete original attribution.