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The Courtship Correspondence 1845-1846
The love letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett remain among the most famous in history. Daniel Karlin's selection, based on a fresh examination of the original manuscripts, provides new insight into the clandestine correspondence which led to their elopement in 1846.
They poured the full resources of their minds and hearts into these complex and subtle letters, as they explored each others needs, desires, passions, and anxieties. Together, the letters tell the enthralling story of how they waited many years to elope, overcoming many obstacles such as the
neurotic presence of Elizabeth Barrett's father and the intense demands they made on one another. This volume allows the reader to follow the story in all its scope and richness.
They poured the full resources of their minds and hearts into these complex and subtle letters, as they explored each others needs, desires, passions, and anxieties. Together, the letters tell the enthralling story of how they waited many years to elope, overcoming many obstacles such as the
neurotic presence of Elizabeth Barrett's father and the intense demands they made on one another. This volume allows the reader to follow the story in all its scope and richness.
- GenresNonfiction
Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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About the author
Robert Browning
2,726 books455 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
October 4, 2021
Oct 1, 415am ~~ Review asap.
Oct 2, 7pm ~~ Reading Flush by Virginia Woolf made me curious about two people who had been merely names to me for my entire life. Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I had never actually read anything by either poet (except a bit of force feeding back in school) and while I did know a little of their story, it was merely the bare bones. After finishing Flush I decided I just HAD to read for myself the letters they exchanged from January 1845 to September 1846. So here we are!
To tell the truth, I was not sure what to expect from these letters. I had hoped to get to know each person better, and I did. What surprised me was the discovery that they were just like any couple in a budding romance: sometimes shy, sometimes too concerned with figuring out exactly what was intended by the use of certain words. They had misunderstandings and fretted about making each other angry and once EBB even returned one of RB's letter and told him to burn it. That was right after they first met in person. I will chalk it up to nerves on both sides. No one knows for certain what was in that letter, but it is assumed that he proclaimed his love for her.
EBB was petrified of being a burden to him, and kept him at arm's length for a very long time because of that fear. She did not want to feel that he was interested in her out of pity. To my way of thinking he did not seem to be. He didn't even seem to understand her situation completely until much further along in the letter exchange. And exchange letters they certainly did, by the way! Sometimes two or even three per day, even after he began his visits. It was wonderful to see a couple with so much to discuss, but I confess I got annoyed with them both more than once for various reasons.
EBB even scolded RB for one of those reasons: after that major spat they had, where she had returned his letter, she wrote that perhaps she had misunderstood him, but that in his letters just like in his poetry he wove such a tangled thread of words that a reader could got lost and never find the true meaning. But she could be guilty of the same thing, at least for me. He would have understood all of her references to various classic works and Greek phrases, but all I could manage sometimes was 'Hunh?' And once they did get to the lovey dovey stage, well, a person can only read 'my dearest dearest' and such like so many times without feeling like you are wading through overly sweet syrup, no matter how famous the letter writers are. lol
I was generally more annoyed with him than with her. He seemed to me very needy, even telling her once that he was happiest when someone else made decisions for him. And he was at times pushy about things, but she would stand up for herself so good on her. This was a fascinating look into their lives, and I now am planning to read at least some of their work, because they would write about this poem or that poem that they were each working on and I didn't want to take time out from the letters to go read them just then. So I have a few more titles on my Someday lists. Surprise surprise. lol
Overall, I would say that I should not have been surprised when two poets fussed so much about the words they each used. And I should not have been annoyed when they each tried to claim that the other was a better person ~~ that got old quickly and I wanted them both to just stop it, but they were still establishing ground rules. I loved the privilege of watching these two connect and develop their relationship. They proved the power of honest communication. And they proved themselves human, not merely a couple of exalted names on some Read These Before You Die book list.
Oct 2, 7pm ~~ Reading Flush by Virginia Woolf made me curious about two people who had been merely names to me for my entire life. Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I had never actually read anything by either poet (except a bit of force feeding back in school) and while I did know a little of their story, it was merely the bare bones. After finishing Flush I decided I just HAD to read for myself the letters they exchanged from January 1845 to September 1846. So here we are!
To tell the truth, I was not sure what to expect from these letters. I had hoped to get to know each person better, and I did. What surprised me was the discovery that they were just like any couple in a budding romance: sometimes shy, sometimes too concerned with figuring out exactly what was intended by the use of certain words. They had misunderstandings and fretted about making each other angry and once EBB even returned one of RB's letter and told him to burn it. That was right after they first met in person. I will chalk it up to nerves on both sides. No one knows for certain what was in that letter, but it is assumed that he proclaimed his love for her.
EBB was petrified of being a burden to him, and kept him at arm's length for a very long time because of that fear. She did not want to feel that he was interested in her out of pity. To my way of thinking he did not seem to be. He didn't even seem to understand her situation completely until much further along in the letter exchange. And exchange letters they certainly did, by the way! Sometimes two or even three per day, even after he began his visits. It was wonderful to see a couple with so much to discuss, but I confess I got annoyed with them both more than once for various reasons.
EBB even scolded RB for one of those reasons: after that major spat they had, where she had returned his letter, she wrote that perhaps she had misunderstood him, but that in his letters just like in his poetry he wove such a tangled thread of words that a reader could got lost and never find the true meaning. But she could be guilty of the same thing, at least for me. He would have understood all of her references to various classic works and Greek phrases, but all I could manage sometimes was 'Hunh?' And once they did get to the lovey dovey stage, well, a person can only read 'my dearest dearest' and such like so many times without feeling like you are wading through overly sweet syrup, no matter how famous the letter writers are. lol
I was generally more annoyed with him than with her. He seemed to me very needy, even telling her once that he was happiest when someone else made decisions for him. And he was at times pushy about things, but she would stand up for herself so good on her. This was a fascinating look into their lives, and I now am planning to read at least some of their work, because they would write about this poem or that poem that they were each working on and I didn't want to take time out from the letters to go read them just then. So I have a few more titles on my Someday lists. Surprise surprise. lol
Overall, I would say that I should not have been surprised when two poets fussed so much about the words they each used. And I should not have been annoyed when they each tried to claim that the other was a better person ~~ that got old quickly and I wanted them both to just stop it, but they were still establishing ground rules. I loved the privilege of watching these two connect and develop their relationship. They proved the power of honest communication. And they proved themselves human, not merely a couple of exalted names on some Read These Before You Die book list.
March 2, 2012
The letters are sort of a companion peice to the Sonnets from the Portuguese; they tell the whole beautiful story from the inside (including an oddly touching episode where Flush, EBB's dog, gets stolen just a few weeks before the wedding). Reading these will make you love both poets-- their story is way better than most of the silly love movies out on film!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews