(1809–1861)
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, easily first among English poets of her sex, was born in Durham. The daughter of a rich retired India merchant, she was remarkably precocious, reading Homer in the original, and writing verse at the age of eight years.
In 1836 the family removed to London, where she commenced her life-work. Despite the fact that she was a chronic invalid, she was familiar with the language and literature of several nations. Her poems of this period reflect her deep interest in social and humanitarian questions.
At this very time, when her fame far exceeded his, Robert Browning called on her to thank her for a compliment paid him in one of her poems. It seems to have been a case of love at first sight. They were married in 1846 and soon removed to Florence, Italy.
The "Sonnets from the Portuguese," among the world's noblest love poems, contain the record of her courtship and marriage.
In Italy she regained her health somewhat, and it was here that most of her best works were written. She took a great interest in the cause of Italian independence, as appears from "Casa Guidi Windows," and many lesser poems.
Although she began to write at an early age, she reached maturity slowly, producing her best works only after her fortieth year. She died in 1861.
Her characteristic note is that of sympathy, but her insight into human character was not particularly deep. The greatest faults in her style are vagueness and lack of self-restraint, probably to be attributed to her extremely sensitive temperament and overflowing imagination.
In the "Sonnets" these faults are not so noticeable, the rigid rules of that species of verse restraining her within bounds.
THE WOMAN