Dorothy Wordsworth kept a journal at Alfoxden, in 1798.

This is also where her brother and Coleridge planned the "Lyrical Ballads." The Alfoxden Journal was written during 1797-8, when the Wordsworths lived near Coleridge in Somerset. Only intended to "give Wm Pleasure by it," her journals provided an inspiration recognized by Wordsworth when he said of Dorothy: "she gave me eyes, she gave me ears." This sentiment about women's role as inspirers of men is stressed by Shakespeare throughout Love's Labour's Lost, above all in Berowne's tremendous speech, IV.iii.290-367. One memorable poem was begun while Wordsworth and Coleridge walked along the north Devon coast, for there was talk out of which came the idea for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. Engraving, 1880.