17th century England woos former Bradford resident

APPLETON, Wis. – Roberta Albrecht, formerly of Bradford, recently published a journal article on a sermon by 17th century English writer John Donne. Her article was published in the spring 2008 issue of The Catalan Review and examines how three recurring signs in the sermon — the ark, the rainbow and rest — offer hope to religious and political antagonists.

Albrecht spent the majority of her career as a professor of English, teaching at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and, for 10 years, at Concordia College in Bronxville, N.Y. She and her husband recently retired to Appleton, Wis., in August 2007, where Albrecht continues to research and write about topics having to do with 17th century England and English writers of that time.

Albrecht said she first became interested in 17th century England and the writers of the period when she took the first course of the master’s in English program at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla.

“My first master’s course was on the metaphysical poets — John Donne, George Herbert and Andrew Marvell,” Albrecht said. “I fell in love with these poets, especially John Donne.”

Albrecht continued her studies with a focus on 17th century English writers, and graduated with a doctoral degree from New York University in humanities. Her first scholarly journal article was published in 1982. Since then, she has had multiple journal articles published, as well as two books on the interpretation of John Donne, George Herbert, and Richard Crashaw, three 17th century English poets.

During her retirement in Bronxville, N.Y., a suburb of New York City, Albrecht spent much time taking advantage of research resources in New York City. She researched frequently in facilities on Madison Avenue and Fifth Avenue.

Albrecht said she was drawn to focus on these particular writers and to continue to research and write about them for 33 years because of their peculiar religious dilemma.

“Two of the poets are Catholic, and one converted to the Church of England,” she said. “This was an era when being a Catholic was forbidden, so the people who were Catholic had a great struggle and a decision to make — whether they would stay with their church or not. It’s not always easy to walk that path and to do what you think is right.”

Albrecht said she holds an admiration for people today who make the world a better place.

“The 17th century was not so very different from today in the sense that treating each other with dignity will go a long way towards diffusing anger and soothing misunderstandings,” she said. “I just admire anybody who has the courage to help others at his or her own expense.”

Albrecht said she is currently working on an article focusing on poet George Herbert. In addition to doing research at nearby Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., she plans to take watercolor painting classes, square dancing classes, and has joined a fine arts club and a book club. She also volunteers at her church.

Albrecht is a member of the Tiskilwa Historical Society and recently enjoyed visiting with friends from her high school years at the Indian Valley Inn in Tiskilwa.

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