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The Poems & Plays of Robert Browning
Excerpt from The Poems and Plays
This volume has been planned for the less experienced reader of Browning; the more advanced reader is satisfied only with the complete edition. The Introduction, therefore, aims merely to suggest briefly an approach to Browning, to point out such difficulties as often perplex one who reads Browning for the first time, and to state simply a few of the poet's fundamental ideas. Allusions in the text are annotated only where ignorance might come between the reader and the meaning of the poem; critical and interpretative notes have been omitted altogether, in the belief that most of the intellectual stimulus Browning has to offer is lost if the reader's thinking is done for him in advance. As accounts of Browning's life are easily accessible, it has seemed unnecessary to include any biographical material, but a brief reading list has been appended to the introduction.
This volume has been planned for the less experienced reader of Browning; the more advanced reader is satisfied only with the complete edition. The Introduction, therefore, aims merely to suggest briefly an approach to Browning, to point out such difficulties as often perplex one who reads Browning for the first time, and to state simply a few of the poet's fundamental ideas. Allusions in the text are annotated only where ignorance might come between the reader and the meaning of the poem; critical and interpretative notes have been omitted altogether, in the belief that most of the intellectual stimulus Browning has to offer is lost if the reader's thinking is done for him in advance. As accounts of Browning's life are easily accessible, it has seemed unnecessary to include any biographical material, but a brief reading list has been appended to the introduction.
1223 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1926
40 people want to read
About the author
Robert Browning
2,744 books459 followersRobert Browning (1812-1889) was a British poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, especially dramatic monologues, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets.
Browning began writing poetry at age 13. These poems were eventually collected, but were later destroyed by Browning himself. In 1833, Browning's "Pauline" was published and received a cool reception. Harold Bloom believes that John Stuart Mill's review of the poem pointed Browning in the direction of the dramatic monologue.
In 1845, Browning wrote a letter to the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, professing that he loved her poetry and her. In 1846, the couple eloped to Europe, eventually settling in Florence in 1847. They had a son Pen.
Upon Elizabeth Barrett Browning's death in 1861, Browning returned to London with his son. While in London, he published Dramatis Personae (1864) and The Ring and the Book (1869), both of which gained him critical priase and respect. His last book Asolando was published in 1889 when the poet was 77.
In 1889, Browning traveled to Italy to visit friends. He died in Venice on December 12 while visiting his sister.
Browning began writing poetry at age 13. These poems were eventually collected, but were later destroyed by Browning himself. In 1833, Browning's "Pauline" was published and received a cool reception. Harold Bloom believes that John Stuart Mill's review of the poem pointed Browning in the direction of the dramatic monologue.
In 1845, Browning wrote a letter to the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, professing that he loved her poetry and her. In 1846, the couple eloped to Europe, eventually settling in Florence in 1847. They had a son Pen.
Upon Elizabeth Barrett Browning's death in 1861, Browning returned to London with his son. While in London, he published Dramatis Personae (1864) and The Ring and the Book (1869), both of which gained him critical priase and respect. His last book Asolando was published in 1889 when the poet was 77.
In 1889, Browning traveled to Italy to visit friends. He died in Venice on December 12 while visiting his sister.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
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January 7, 2026Unannotated Book in F. Scott Fitzgerald's College of One
March 5, 2016
This massive and rather aged book contains all of the poems and plays of Robert Browning. It has in it The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came, The Ring and the Book and a few others that I had not heard of. It also has a short biography on Browning.
I initially picked up this book when it was being sold by the Library. For some reason the name piqued my interest. I assume it was because of his poems. As for his other works, I hadn't heard of them before. It was a bit of trouble entering this book at all since the one I have doesn't possess an ISBN in the information page; the book is from 1934 I believe. In any case, I only have one problem with this book and that is that Browning is sometimes long-winded.
It's probably a problem on my part though, not his. I found it a bit difficult to focus well enough to slog through some of his works. All in all this is a good volume and seems pretty complete.
I initially picked up this book when it was being sold by the Library. For some reason the name piqued my interest. I assume it was because of his poems. As for his other works, I hadn't heard of them before. It was a bit of trouble entering this book at all since the one I have doesn't possess an ISBN in the information page; the book is from 1934 I believe. In any case, I only have one problem with this book and that is that Browning is sometimes long-winded.
It's probably a problem on my part though, not his. I found it a bit difficult to focus well enough to slog through some of his works. All in all this is a good volume and seems pretty complete.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews