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Dramatic Lyrics
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
- GenresPoetryBritish Literature
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1842
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About the author
Robert Browning
2,720 books449 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 of 1 review
April 25, 2025
(1842). And all at once Browning's poetry bursts into full flower. My selection didn't include all the poems, which I believe are:
Cavalier Tunes--songs for monarchists against those dastardly roundheads of the English Civil War. Kind of a nerdy thing to write.
My Last Duchess--peak Browning already.
Count Gismond--another unreliable narrator, the female version of the Duke of Ferrara above.
Incident of the French Camp--aims for good old-fashioned sentiment, and succeeds.
Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister--one of the great comic villains, all the funnier for how pathetically harmless he is. So many cool lines and rhythms.
In a Gondola--very romantic etching with a dramatic end that I'm confused by. The male lover was stabbed but then it seems the female dies.
Artemis Prologizes--Attic-style poem, the prologue to an unfinished work. It just summarizes the plot to Euripides' Hippolytus, but it's colorfully painted by Browning.
Waring--fanciful, mythical imaginings by Browning of a friend who vanishes after being neglected by his now rueful friends. Touch of Kipling's The Man Who Would Be King, but also that certain subgenre where the life of a dead or missing friend becomes the subject of a vaguely metaphysical mystery. I looked this one up on a whim, since it was left out of my edition--wrongfully, I think.
Rudel to the Lady of Tripoli--pretty, but confusing unless you know the legend it's based on, which I found online: "The speaker is Geoffrey Rudel, a 12th century Provencal troubadour who according to legend fell in love with the Princess of Tripoli from tales of her beauty told by returning crusaders. Setting out to see her, he fell ill on the voyage, but died in her arms."
Cristina--love-at-first-sight poem. Some romantic lines.
Johannes Agricola in Meditation--originally published under the heading of "Madhouse Cells," along with Porphyria's Lover, which is a pretty funny comment on Agricola's Antinomianism and proto-Calvinist philosophy. Johannes Agricola was a Protestant reformer from the 16th c. who broke with Martin Luther over the former's views on predestination and its implications on sin and the law. Antinomian is derived from "against law."
Porphyria's Lover--written in '34 or '35. Very good poem but I could always tell this was an early one by Browning because it's a little heavy on the gothic.
Through the Metidja to Abd-El-Kadr--not included in my edition. If what I found online is the correct poem, it's a vivid little action scene, rather jingly and with a meter meant to simulate a horse's gallop.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin--the legend dates to medieval Germany. I liked how the mountain was a portal to Transylvania.
Cavalier Tunes--songs for monarchists against those dastardly roundheads of the English Civil War. Kind of a nerdy thing to write.
My Last Duchess--peak Browning already.
Count Gismond--another unreliable narrator, the female version of the Duke of Ferrara above.
Incident of the French Camp--aims for good old-fashioned sentiment, and succeeds.
Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister--one of the great comic villains, all the funnier for how pathetically harmless he is. So many cool lines and rhythms.
In a Gondola--very romantic etching with a dramatic end that I'm confused by. The male lover was stabbed but then it seems the female dies.
Artemis Prologizes--Attic-style poem, the prologue to an unfinished work. It just summarizes the plot to Euripides' Hippolytus, but it's colorfully painted by Browning.
Waring--fanciful, mythical imaginings by Browning of a friend who vanishes after being neglected by his now rueful friends. Touch of Kipling's The Man Who Would Be King, but also that certain subgenre where the life of a dead or missing friend becomes the subject of a vaguely metaphysical mystery. I looked this one up on a whim, since it was left out of my edition--wrongfully, I think.
Rudel to the Lady of Tripoli--pretty, but confusing unless you know the legend it's based on, which I found online: "The speaker is Geoffrey Rudel, a 12th century Provencal troubadour who according to legend fell in love with the Princess of Tripoli from tales of her beauty told by returning crusaders. Setting out to see her, he fell ill on the voyage, but died in her arms."
Cristina--love-at-first-sight poem. Some romantic lines.
Johannes Agricola in Meditation--originally published under the heading of "Madhouse Cells," along with Porphyria's Lover, which is a pretty funny comment on Agricola's Antinomianism and proto-Calvinist philosophy. Johannes Agricola was a Protestant reformer from the 16th c. who broke with Martin Luther over the former's views on predestination and its implications on sin and the law. Antinomian is derived from "against law."
Porphyria's Lover--written in '34 or '35. Very good poem but I could always tell this was an early one by Browning because it's a little heavy on the gothic.
Through the Metidja to Abd-El-Kadr--not included in my edition. If what I found online is the correct poem, it's a vivid little action scene, rather jingly and with a meter meant to simulate a horse's gallop.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin--the legend dates to medieval Germany. I liked how the mountain was a portal to Transylvania.
Displaying 1 of 1 review