Christina Rossetti left school at 14 after a mental breakdown due to the deterioration of her father's health and financial difficulties.
Both Rossetti and her mother both became seriously interested in Anglo-Catholisism and Rossetti's devotion to her faith saw her engaged and parted from two potential husbands (both on creative career paths).
She was a volunteer worker from 1859-1870 for the "fallen women" - former prostitutes.
She had been a writer since she was seven years old and had her first work published before her 31st birthday.
She continued to write for the rest of her life and maintained a large circle of friends and social life. She was an regular volunteer at ex-prostitute homes.