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Robert Browning: How to Know Him
If we enter this world from some other state of existence, it seems certain that in the obscure pre-natal country, the power of free choice—so stormily debated by philosophers and theologians here—does not exist.
300 pages, Paperback
Published March 23, 2007
About the author
William Lyon Phelps
367 books9 followersProfessor of English at Yale University, 1892-1933.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
October 27, 2026
I’ve always been rather fond of Robert Browning’s poetry, especially the nature imagery in A Lover’s Quarrel. I wanted to learn more about the man behind the poems and the life that helped shape his writing.
What I have read so far has been fascinating. I am beginning to think that the love story of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning may be one of the most remarkable I have ever come across.
Elizabeth and Robert fell in love and married despite her father's strong disapproval. His opposition was so great that he essentially disowned her. Yet Elizabeth and Robert chose to follow their hearts and build a life together. They spent fifteen years married, welcomed a son, and shared a deep appreciation for literature and poetry.
Their story is also interesting when viewed through the lens of their literary careers. Elizabeth enjoyed considerable recognition as a poet during her lifetime, while Robert's work did not receive quite the same appreciation during their years together. His reputation grew after her death, and he eventually received the recognition that had largely eluded him while she was alive.
I am learning more about the literary circles they moved in and the many poets they met and admired. It is wonderful to see these familiar names in a different light, not simply as authors whose works we value today, but as people who knew one another, exchanged ideas, and appreciated each other's writing.
What I find most beautiful about Robert and Elizabeth's story so far is that their love was not simply a matter of words on a page. They made a choice to be together despite the obstacles, and they built a life around their love and their shared interests.
One of the things I love about this book is that it offers more than a biography. Along with the many poems included in its pages, there are examples of studies, writing, and personal correspondence, including that from their son, Pen. This gives us a better sense of the people behind the work.
One detail that caught my attention was the connection between Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who were both considered for the same literary honor during the Victorian era.
I was especially touched by a birthday letter Robert wrote to Tennyson. There is something lovely about seeing a celebrated poet express his warm-hearted thoughts to another writer.
What I have read so far has been fascinating. I am beginning to think that the love story of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning may be one of the most remarkable I have ever come across.
Elizabeth and Robert fell in love and married despite her father's strong disapproval. His opposition was so great that he essentially disowned her. Yet Elizabeth and Robert chose to follow their hearts and build a life together. They spent fifteen years married, welcomed a son, and shared a deep appreciation for literature and poetry.
Their story is also interesting when viewed through the lens of their literary careers. Elizabeth enjoyed considerable recognition as a poet during her lifetime, while Robert's work did not receive quite the same appreciation during their years together. His reputation grew after her death, and he eventually received the recognition that had largely eluded him while she was alive.
I am learning more about the literary circles they moved in and the many poets they met and admired. It is wonderful to see these familiar names in a different light, not simply as authors whose works we value today, but as people who knew one another, exchanged ideas, and appreciated each other's writing.
What I find most beautiful about Robert and Elizabeth's story so far is that their love was not simply a matter of words on a page. They made a choice to be together despite the obstacles, and they built a life around their love and their shared interests.
One of the things I love about this book is that it offers more than a biography. Along with the many poems included in its pages, there are examples of studies, writing, and personal correspondence, including that from their son, Pen. This gives us a better sense of the people behind the work.
One detail that caught my attention was the connection between Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Alfred, Lord Tennyson, who were both considered for the same literary honor during the Victorian era.
I was especially touched by a birthday letter Robert wrote to Tennyson. There is something lovely about seeing a celebrated poet express his warm-hearted thoughts to another writer.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review