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The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barret Barrett 1845-1846
Excerpt from Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett, 1845-1846, Vol. 1 of 2After all, I need not give up the thought of doing that, too, in time; because even now, talking with whoever is worthy, I can give a reason for my faith in one and another excellence, the fresh strange music, the affluent language, the exquisite pathos and true new brave thought; but in this addressing myself to you your own self, and for the first time, my feeling rises altogether. I do, as I say, love these books with all my heart - and I love you too. Do you know I was once not very far from seeing - really seeing you? Mr. Kenyon said to me one morning 'Would you like to see Miss Barrett?' then he went to announce me, - then he returned .. you were too unwell, and now it is years ago, and I feel as at some untoward passage in my travels, as if I had been close, so close, to some world's-wonder in chapel or crypt, only a screen to push and I might have entered, but there was some slight, so it now seems, slight and just sufficient bar to admission, and the half-opened door shut, and I went home my thousands of miles, and the sight was never to be?I thank you, dear Mr. Browning, from the bottom of my heart. You meant to give me pleasure by your letter - and even if the object had not been answered, I ought still to thank you. But it is thoroughly answered. Such a letter from such a hand!
596 pages, Paperback
First published September 27, 2015
54 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Robert Browning
2,723 books451 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 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 9, 2010
Elizabeth Barrett was a genuine celebrity of her time - and also she was as ill and fragile as your ancient Aunt Eleanor. Robert Browning was six years younger, a celebrity in his own right, and as unconcerned about societal conventions as any man born in the Victorian age could be. Their letters to one another, preceding their scandalous elopement, are mesmerizing. He tells her he loves her in his first letter! He writes a shocking letter that she makes him burn! He brings her back to life, when she has pretty much decided death is looking quite appealing - and that really happened.
I can't pick these two volumes up without becoming hypnotized by them - it's like falling off a cliff into endless space. Their poetry will never read the same to you after reading their letters. Elizabeth's "Sonnets from the Portuguese" brings to life the woman who was at the brink of death, and who was resurrected by (I can't help it - it's true) - well, by the power of true love. Robert's poetry bursts all over the place with the energy of the guy whose mind and heart were so full of life and ideas that he can hardly take the time to make them clear to the reader. They were Real People. And their story is beyond amazing.
I can't pick these two volumes up without becoming hypnotized by them - it's like falling off a cliff into endless space. Their poetry will never read the same to you after reading their letters. Elizabeth's "Sonnets from the Portuguese" brings to life the woman who was at the brink of death, and who was resurrected by (I can't help it - it's true) - well, by the power of true love. Robert's poetry bursts all over the place with the energy of the guy whose mind and heart were so full of life and ideas that he can hardly take the time to make them clear to the reader. They were Real People. And their story is beyond amazing.
October 8, 2009
Last year, I got this book as a birthday gift from someone whom I deeply admire. It was basically the gift that thrilled me the most, :-). Aside from its literary value, it also symbolizes the affection of the giver- one of my dearest "influences" and motivators. :-)
E.B. Browning is the poet closest to my heart- her literary style greatly inspires my "literary creations". This book will be a treasure, its content priceless, the profoundness of thought, the compassion embedded in each word; one can feel the purity of E.B. Browning's writings.
This book will definitely remain to be one of my most treasured possessions.
Thanks again, Manong J. :-)
E.B. Browning is the poet closest to my heart- her literary style greatly inspires my "literary creations". This book will be a treasure, its content priceless, the profoundness of thought, the compassion embedded in each word; one can feel the purity of E.B. Browning's writings.
This book will definitely remain to be one of my most treasured possessions.
Thanks again, Manong J. :-)
March 7, 2025
Reading these letters took me along on a remarkable journey as these two poets found each other and fell in love, shared their joys and sorrows, their wit and poems and stories.
October 17, 2022
Romantic love letters that show the growing respect, love, and trust between these two famous poets along with some of the obstacles faced on the path to marriage, improved health, and continued publishing successes.
July 12, 2024
just extraordinary, I'm so jealous of both their abilities and the sweet longing captured
August 9, 2016
I absolutely love!!!! how they understood each other's literary references, and also how they could make up stories for each other that the other would jump right in and finish in an appropriate style. I do fancy that I'm educated, and let's face it, it's hard, (maybe especially these days) to find someone who's read as much as I have and gotten as much out of what they have read. Um, yeah, since I don't even already have someone, Browning may as well be my own model to hope for *, and hey, neither of them expected to find each other, even back then, so it might happen someday for me too :) (*not just hope of education, but also of character--neither of them perfect, but darn it, it's kind of hard to poke too many holes in them. Awesome)
September 10, 2014
Such a sucker for love! So beautiful
January 3, 2026
I admit I only knew the barest minimum about Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barret Barrett (the story behind those nearly identical names, for instance, immediately had me curious). As a lifelong letter writer and a historian, I love a good collection of letters, and this is absolutely satisfying.
We get to peer over their shoulders literally from the moment they first met when Robert Browning sent a letter to Elizabeth B.B. They both had a lovely way of writing, honest yet charming and eager to understand each other and be understood. There are some truly delightful passages, such as when Elizabeth explained how she envied some of the good poetry that Robert wrote, wishing she had received the inspiration herself, and wrote along the lines of: Beauty is beauty, whether from one’s own creation or another’s—bless the coming of such beauty. (Except better because she’s a poet and I am not.)
The final line of Elizabeth B.B.’s last letter before leaving with R. B. moved me nearly to tears. It was something like “I believe no one are so bold as the timid when they are roused.”
Most of the letters cover their evolving relationship and love for each other. There are a few other topics, such as poetry, being hounded by amateur writers or star-struck fans, their daily activities, and the London dog-napping for ransom gang which I don’t think I’d ever heard of previously.
I did a little bit of online digging to learn a little about them and why they had to be married so secretly. It turns out that E.B.B.’s father was some kind of twisted individual who had repeatedly forbidden all of his adult children from every marrying anyone, no matter how suitable. E.B.B. wrote very obliquely about an incident in which one of her sisters broke off an engagement at her father’s command, and even though she acquiesced without complaint, he still lit into her to such an extent that “her knees were made to ring upon the floor” (I assume this means he pushed her to the floor so violently one could hear the impact of her knees?) and E.B.B. who was witness to the scene that followed was so upset she fainted and had to be carried out. That’s all that’s in the letters, so I am guessing there was emotional, verbal, and physical abuse. Plus it’s just bizarre for a man with many children himself to forbid all of them from ever marrying and insist that he would rather they were dead than married. When he later in life accidentally encounters the grown son of Robert Browning and Elizabeth he shuns him entirely. There was something truly messed up in her father’s head.
The librivox volunteers did a good job reading these lovely romantic letters.
We get to peer over their shoulders literally from the moment they first met when Robert Browning sent a letter to Elizabeth B.B. They both had a lovely way of writing, honest yet charming and eager to understand each other and be understood. There are some truly delightful passages, such as when Elizabeth explained how she envied some of the good poetry that Robert wrote, wishing she had received the inspiration herself, and wrote along the lines of: Beauty is beauty, whether from one’s own creation or another’s—bless the coming of such beauty. (Except better because she’s a poet and I am not.)
The final line of Elizabeth B.B.’s last letter before leaving with R. B. moved me nearly to tears. It was something like “I believe no one are so bold as the timid when they are roused.”
Most of the letters cover their evolving relationship and love for each other. There are a few other topics, such as poetry, being hounded by amateur writers or star-struck fans, their daily activities, and the London dog-napping for ransom gang which I don’t think I’d ever heard of previously.
I did a little bit of online digging to learn a little about them and why they had to be married so secretly. It turns out that E.B.B.’s father was some kind of twisted individual who had repeatedly forbidden all of his adult children from every marrying anyone, no matter how suitable. E.B.B. wrote very obliquely about an incident in which one of her sisters broke off an engagement at her father’s command, and even though she acquiesced without complaint, he still lit into her to such an extent that “her knees were made to ring upon the floor” (I assume this means he pushed her to the floor so violently one could hear the impact of her knees?) and E.B.B. who was witness to the scene that followed was so upset she fainted and had to be carried out. That’s all that’s in the letters, so I am guessing there was emotional, verbal, and physical abuse. Plus it’s just bizarre for a man with many children himself to forbid all of them from ever marrying and insist that he would rather they were dead than married. When he later in life accidentally encounters the grown son of Robert Browning and Elizabeth he shuns him entirely. There was something truly messed up in her father’s head.
The librivox volunteers did a good job reading these lovely romantic letters.
September 28, 2024
I love love love them! They're my favorite couple. They're indeed powerful as poets and as a couple. Reading the collections of their letters make me believe in unconditional love.
April 1, 2025
The Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Barrett 1845-1846 offers a touching and insightful look into their evolving relationship, from admiration to love.
Elizabeth’s hesitance, shaped by personal struggles and her environment, adds emotional depth, while Robert’s persistence and devotion make their story even more compelling. Their discussions provide fascinating insight into their creative minds and Victorian-era society.
However, the sheer volume of letters can feel overwhelming, and the elaborate writing style makes some passages repetitive and challenging for modern readers.
Still, for those who love literary history and grand romance, this collection is a beautiful, deeply personal read that brings two of the greatest poets to life.
Elizabeth’s hesitance, shaped by personal struggles and her environment, adds emotional depth, while Robert’s persistence and devotion make their story even more compelling. Their discussions provide fascinating insight into their creative minds and Victorian-era society.
However, the sheer volume of letters can feel overwhelming, and the elaborate writing style makes some passages repetitive and challenging for modern readers.
Still, for those who love literary history and grand romance, this collection is a beautiful, deeply personal read that brings two of the greatest poets to life.
September 17, 2013
Okay, so Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning's letters are the genuine article when it comes to love and romance. Definitely some swoony moments here if you're into that kind of thing. I felt a bit weird reading them, though, like I was invading their privacy. I knocked my rating down a star just because these letters are so dense and full of literary allusions (which, I guess, duh, for two Victorian poets) that occasionally I struggled to push myself through. It does make me want to go on to tackle Barrett Browning's Aurora Leigh.
Currently reading
August 17, 2007am restraining myself to read fast on this one... for those "hopeless romantics" like me, this one is a must read...
am lucky enough to have the the first edition of this one... my treasured possesion, :-).
am lucky enough to have the the first edition of this one... my treasured possesion, :-).
July 8, 2010
"How do I love thee" nya Browning so touchy....
February 23, 2013
Incredible reading, very informative.
July 21, 2009
She is my great great grand mother so I have to give her full stars.
If I could write like her, I would quit the I.T. industry today.
If I could write like her, I would quit the I.T. industry today.
September 4, 2011
The Brownings shared a beautiful and moving romance as evidenced by this moving collection of their correspondence.
May 24, 2012
Don't read every letter but skipped around.
Read
July 15, 2014I wish Volume 2 existed as an e-book!
unfinished
May 11, 2016OK, but I just don't have the time to read it all.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews