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July 29, 2022
Lilly: Probably everyone who had to read English literature in school is familiar with at least the most famous of the poems in this collection, but reading just one, seemingly overly-sentimental poem out of context does a huge disservice to this beautiful volume of poetry. Largely autobiographical, Sonnets from the Portuguese explores the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning's complicated feelings of grief and yearning for her future husband Robert Browning, despite her severe physical ailments, recent losses in her family, and her father's disapproval of their relationship. These 44 sonnets are intensely personal and vacillate between feelings of guilt, despair, hope, and helpless passion, portraying Barrett Browning's initial reluctance and gradual acceptance of Browning's love for her. Sonnets from the Portuguese is a must-read for any poetry fan.
