To Althea, From Prison Summary

To Althea, From Prison Overview

“To Althea, from Prison” was written, as the title suggests, from prison. Richard Lovelace, a cavalier poet, was in London’s Gatehouse Prison for his political activities when he authored the poem in 1642. The identity of Althea is unknown. The poem was first published in 1649, as part of Lovelace's collection Lucasta. “To Althea, from Prison” is a meditation on Lovelace’s desire for liberty and the freedom he finds in his devotion to the king.