Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning
Poetry drew Elizabeth Barret Browning and Robert Browning together before they ever met. They first learned of each other from the pages of their published books and admired each other’s writings from afar.
Elizabeth, a well-known poet in 1840’s England, added a section to one of her own books defending Robert’s poetry against his critics. In turn, Robert was totally captivated by Elizabeth’s 1844 collection, Poems, and even went so far as to write her a fan letter, in January 1845, in which he stated, “I love your poems with all of my heart […] and I love you, too.”
But he was moving a little fast for Elizabeth. Her trust wasn’t to be won by a few fancy words. She was concerned that he was infatuated with her writing, not her. A man of determination, Robert used his pen to persuade her otherwise.
They exchanged letters for five months before they met in person for the first time: a meeting that deepened the roots of their growing love. However, Elizabeth’s father wasn’t about to give permission for anyone to court his daughter, especially not Browning, the son of a bank clerk.
Born to wealth, Elizabeth had grown up in her father’s twenty-bedroom mansion, but by the time she was in her thirties, she was an invalid whose life was controlled by her father and the doctors. At one point, the doctors took her inkstand away declaring that writing poetry was bad for her health. Her father tolerated the poetry, but he would not allow his daughter to receive visits from a man he believed to be a fortune-hunter.
Not to be deterred, Robert continued to write to Elizabeth and to visit secretly when he could manage it. During their twenty months of letter writing and secret courtship, they exchanged a total of 575 letters!
By August 1846, he had persuaded Elizabeth to elope with him. It would mean leaving her home and her close-knit family, possibly forever, but Robert was the love of her life and her best friend. She was willing to risk everything for him.
On September 12, 1846, Elizabeth snuck out of the house and met Robert at a parish church. There, they were wed. A week later, Robert spirited her away to Italy. Her father was outraged. He disinherited and disowned Elizabeth and refused to accept her letters or ever see her again.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth flourished in the warmth of Robert’s love and Italy. Her health improved significantly, they had a son, and she wrote the best poetry of her lifetime: Sonnets from the Portuguese, a collection of love poems written during her courtship and the early years of her marriage, and Aurora Leigh.
Elizabeth became seriously ill in the summer of 1861 and died in Robert’s arms a few months later. He went on to become one of Britain’s greatest poets in his own right, but he never remarried.
Their love is canonized here in one of Elizabeth’s poems:
Sonnet 43
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Photo of Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning by Thomas B. Reed
Oh my. Such fun!
She was a published author, yet under her father’s control!
“at a parish church. There, they were wed”
Did the preacher officiate?
How did they talk him into it?
Yes, she was 38 years old and a published author, but she was still under her father’s control. He was a very controlling and wealthy man who sought to dictate the lives of all of his children, but especially Elizabeth’s life because of her very delicate health. She was injured or became ill at age 15 (some say from a fall on a horse), and suffered from poor health for the rest of her life. By the time she was 38, she was invalid and unable to walk. However, her courtship with Robert inspired new energy, and she was able to learn to walk again during this time period. Their marriage and move to the warmer climate of Italy also worked wonders for her health (getting away from her father probably did her some good, as well). (It is also surmised that she struggled with a dependency on laudanum, which was too frequently prescribed as pain medication during that time period.
Great questions about the preacher/parson! It was a quick ceremony at Marylebone Church near Elizabeth’s home, but I’ll have to research more. It’s surprising that the parson would agree since he’d likely face the wrath of Elizabeth’s father.
I have never been much of a poetry fan, but this story plucked my heart strings.. Thanks for sharing it. I believe a trip to the library is in order!
While I was researching this, I discovered that there is a book that contains their love letters (not all of them, but the highlights). I’ve ordered it on Amazon:)
Great post, Sherry!! I’d forgotten their story – wonderful to remember that love does conquer all!! Thanks for this post! 🙂
In high school, I read the play The Barretts on Wimpole Street, a fictionalized account of their courtship. I loved it, but I’d forgotten many of the details until I researched for this blog. I think it’s one of the great romantic love stories of history.