Public-domain ebook
by Browning, Robert; Browning, Elizabeth Barrett
English2,334 downloads on Project GutenbergDownload EPUB
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #16182.
This volume presents the early correspondence between Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett, covering the years 1845‑1846. The letters are reproduced faithfully, preserving original punctuation, occasional slips of the pen, and even the occasional Greek phrase, which has been rendered in square‑bracketed notes. The opening pages include a portrait frontispiece of Browning and a facsimile of his first letter, dated January 10 1845, in which he declares his admiration for Barrett’s verses and expresses a yearning to move beyond passive appreciation. Barrett’s reply, dated the following day, thanks him for his “sympathy of a poet” and invites constructive criticism of her work. Subsequent letters continue the exchange, revealing their mutual desire for artistic improvement and hinting at the personal obstacles that separate them.
The prose is unmistakably Victorian, marked by elaborate, flowing sentences and a heightened emotional register that reflects the poets’ own literary styles. Readers who relish intimate, unedited primary sources, particularly scholars of 19th‑century English poetry, historians of literary relationships, or admirers of the Browning‑Barrett partnership, will find this collection rewarding. Its authentic voice and detailed commentary on poetic craft make it a valuable window into the formative years of one of literature’s most celebrated romances.
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The correspondence contained in these volumes is printed exactly as it appears in the original letters, without alteration, except in respect of obvious slips of the pen. Even the punctuation, with its characteristic dots and dashes, has for the most part been preserved. The notes in square brackets [] have been added mainly in order to translate the Greek phrases, and to give the references to Greek poets. For these, thanks are due to Mr. F.G. Kenyon, who has revised the proofs with the assistance of Mr. Roger Ingpen, the latter being responsible for the Index.
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