Robert Browning

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Robert Browning Biography

Robert Browning had a flair for the dramatic. Perhaps more than any other nineteenth-century writer, he was able to fuse the aesthetics of drama and poetry into a truly theatrical verse. In fact, some of his most famous poems (“Porphyria’s Lover” and “My Last Duchess”) are structured like dramatic monologues, and storytelling was also an integral part of Browning’s poetry, as evidenced by his verse adaptations of classic tales such as The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Although his reputation swung between popularity and obscurity during his lifetime, his works are now considered classics and have influenced writers as diverse as T. S. Eliot and Stephen King, whose epic Dark Tower series was even inspired by one of Browning’s poems. Take a bow, Robert.

Facts and Trivia

  • Robert Browning was married to the poetess Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who wrote the famous sonnet beginning, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.”
  • Although a British citizen, Browning spent nearly a fourth of his life (and writing career) abroad in Italy. Its culture was incredibly influential upon his work. “Italy was my university,” he would often say.
  • Browning’s most popular work during his lifetime was the dramatic poem The Ring and the Book, which comprises an astonishing 20,000 lines.
  • Browning died on the same day that Asolando, his final volume of verse, was published—December 12, 1889.
  • Though Browning has influenced countless poets in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, perhaps his most obscure connection is to the film remake of Get Carter, starring Sylvester Stallone. The movie opens with a quote from Browning's The Ring and the Book.

Biography

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Robert Browning, one of the most significant poets of the Victorian era, was born in 1812 in the London suburb of Camberwell. Growing up in a literary-rich environment, his father's extensive library sparked a lifelong passion for reading and learning. Browning's unconventional education and early fluency in multiple languages set the stage for his later poetic achievements.

Early Life and Education

Browning's formative years were shaped by his parents' artistic and nonconformist influences. His father, a bank clerk, possessed a vast collection of 6,000 books, from which Browning eagerly absorbed knowledge. The young Browning was reportedly proficient in reading and writing by the age of five. By the time he reached his early teens, he had already mastered Latin, Greek, and French. His formal schooling began at the age of ten when he attended Peckham School for four years. However, his real education occurred at home, where he thrived in an environment that encouraged self-directed learning. At 13, a volume of Percy Shelley's poetry captivated him, cementing his resolve to pursue a literary path.

Early Literary Endeavors

In 1828, Browning briefly attended the University of London but soon withdrew to pursue independent studies. His early literary attempts included his first published work, "Pauline," in 1833, which appeared anonymously. This was followed by "Paracelsus" in 1835, which met with mixed reviews. The poem "Porphyria’s Lover" emerged in 1836 in a small magazine, garnering little attention. Over the next few years, Browning experimented with writing plays and penned a complex poem titled "Sordello," which was met with confusion and puzzlement. Despite these setbacks, Browning's passion for poetry remained undeterred.

The Bells and Pomegranates Series

From 1841 to 1846, Browning produced a series of poems under the title Bells and Pomegranates. Although poorly received at the time, this collection contains some of his most enduring works. Within its pages, readers can find "Pippa Passes" and "My Last Duchess," the latter of which has since become iconic. The 1842 release of Dramatic Lyrics included "Porphyria’s Lover" and "Johannes Agricola" under the heading "Madhouse Cells," while Dramatic Romances and Lyrics followed in 1845. Despite the lack of immediate recognition, Browning's mastery of dramatic monologue, conversational verse, and symbolic exploration would later influence notable poets such as Ezra Pound, T. S. Eliot, and Robert Frost.

Personal Life and Influence

Although Browning's works initially failed to achieve widespread acclaim, they caught the attention of Elizabeth Barrett, a celebrated poet in her own right. Their meeting in 1845 led to a romantic relationship, culminating in their elopement to Italy a year later. During their life together, Barrett expressed her affection in Sonnets from the Portuguese, while Browning dedicated his 1855 collection, Men and Women, to her. This volume includes renowned monologues such as "Fra Lippo Lippi" and "Andrea del Sarto," which have since earned a place among his finest contributions to literature.

Later Success and Legacy

Following Elizabeth Barrett's death in 1861, Browning returned to England, where his career took a decisive turn. The publication of Dramatis Personae in 1864 marked the beginning of critical and popular recognition. His magnum opus, The Ring and the Book, published between 1868 and 1869, solidified his status as one of England's preeminent poets. Subsequently, his 1880 prose narrative Dramatic Idylls bolstered his reputation internationally. In his final years, Browning was showered with honors, including an honorary degree from Oxford University and an audience with Queen Victoria. He passed away in Venice in 1889, the same day his last volume, Asolando, was published, and was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey, forever enshrined as a towering figure in the world of poetry.

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