Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning 2

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Brocky, Karoly - Portrait of Elisabeth Barrett-Browning (1839-44)

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Elizabeth Barrett Browning with her son Pen

Clasped Hands of Robert and Elizabeth Barrett Browning MET DT8282

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (6 March 1806 – 29 June 1861) was one of the most prominent English poets of the Victorian era, known for her passionate advocacy of liberalism, abolitionism, and women's rights. She wrote a variety of poetry, ranging from personal sonnets to political epics. Her work had a significant influence on both her contemporaries and later poets.

Early Life

Elizabeth was born in Kelloe, Durham, England, as the oldest of 12 children to Edward Barrett Moulton Barrett and Mary Graham Clarke. The Barrett family were wealthy landowners who owned sugar plantations in Jamaica, which afforded them a comfortable lifestyle and enabled Elizabeth's education. From a young age, Elizabeth showed a keen interest in literature, reportedly reading novels by the age of six and writing her first poem at the age of ten.

Career

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's early work included the collection An Essay on Mind and Other Poems (1826), which was published anonymously. Her reputation as a poet was established with the publication of Prometheus Bound, and Other Poems (1835), which included strong expressions of her political and social views. However, it was the publication of Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850), a series of 44 sonnets chronicling her courtship and eventual marriage to Robert Browning, that garnered her widespread acclaim. These sonnets are considered among the greatest love poems in the English language.

Personal Life

Elizabeth's health was fragile throughout her life, suffering from an unknown illness that made her increasingly dependent on opium for pain relief. In 1846, she eloped with Robert Browning, moving to Italy, where she spent the rest of her life. Italy's political climate, particularly the struggle for unification, greatly influenced her later work, including the verse-novel Aurora Leigh (1856), which is often considered her masterpiece. Aurora Leigh reflects Barrett Browning's views on social reform, the role of women in society, and the importance of art.

Death and Legacy

Elizabeth Barrett Browning died in Florence on 29 June 1861 and was buried in the English Cemetery there. Her death was deeply mourned, and her work continued to be celebrated for its emotional depth, bold political commentary, and innovative use of the sonnet form. Elizabeth Barrett Browning remains a significant figure in Victorian literature, and her poetry has influenced generations of writers and thinkers.

Selected Works

• An Essay on Mind and Other Poems (1826)
• Prometheus Bound, and Other Poems (1835)
• The Seraphim, and Other Poems (1838)
• Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850)
• Aurora Leigh (1856)

See Also

• Victorian literature
• Women's rights
• Robert Browning
• Sonnets