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Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born in 1806 in County Durham, England. She was the eldest of twelve children born to Edward Barrett Moulin Barrett and Mary Graham Clarke. Elizabeth Barrett Browning, or "Ba", grew up in her family’s estate Hope End, Henfordshire. They were part of the upper-middle class, owning a successful sugar trade. Elizabeth began writing at a very early age. When she was twelve her father had her first epic poem "The Battle of Marathon" privately printed (Radley 15). She referred to this work as "Pope’s Homer done over again, or rather undone" (28). Her diary at this time in her life offered glimpses into her perceptive and expressive writing style. Three years later she became continuously ill. A doctor diagnosed her with a "nervous disorder" and gave her opium to ease her mind. She became a habitual user of opium throughout her life (17). In 1825 she published her first poem called "The Rose and Zephyr". It was published in the November 19th issue of the "Literary Gazette". Two years later her father’s business took a turn for the worse. The family was forced to move out of the Hope End estate and to Sidmouth, Devonshire. During this period of financial trouble Elizabeth’s mother suddenly died. Elizabeth became her father’s close friend and confidant. He relied on Elizabeth a great deal. He forbade his daughter to marry because he relied on her so much. In the years following her mother’s passing, Elizabeth had more of her works published. "An Essay a Mind with Other Poems", translations of Aeschylus "Prometheus Bound...and Miscellaneous Poems", and The Seraphim and Other Poems were published. The Seraphim was the first work published by Elizabeth in her name. The family moved often during this period. They relocated from Sidmouth to Gloucester Place in London to Wimpole Street, which later became a famous landmark. Elizabeth suffered from many illnesses at this time. In 1838 her Uncle Samuel Barrett died and left her an inheritance substantial enough to provide her with living expenses. The following year her favorite brother Samuel nicknamed "Bro," drowned. Elizabeth became depressed for some time. The 1840s saw many famous works produced by Elizabeth. Some of these include "The Cry of the Children," "De Profoundest" and "The Dead Pan." She also published Poems. Poems contained tributes to famous poets Elizabeth revered such as Robert Browning and Henry Wordsworth. In 1845 Elizabeth received her first letter from Robert Browning. He wrote in praise of her poetry. They corresponded for several months, marrying in 1846. Their marriage was not welcome by her father. Her relationship with him was never the same. The couple made their home in Florence, Italy. In Italy, Elizabeth became interested in the country’s politics. She hoped the country would unify. She expressed this feeling in her "Poems before Congress," published in 1860 (25). In 1849, the Browning’s welcomed their first and only child, Robert Wiedmeman Barrett-Browning, called "Pen". A year later she produced and published Sonnets from the Portuguese, her most famous work. The sonnets were a "sequence of 44 sonnets recording the growth of her love for Robert. He often called her ‘my little Portuguese’ because of her dark complexion" (Critical Poet). During that year a magazine, which she contributed to, The Athenaeum, recommended her for Poet Laureate. Alfred Lloyd Tennyson won the honor, but Elizabeth’s nomination is indicative of the literary reputation she had in the 1800s (Critical Poet). For the next decade the family traveled together extensively. During these travels Elizabeth worked on her famous Aurora Leigh, which was published in 1856. The epic poem discussed freedom for women, with particular emphasis on female writers. The following year Elizabeth’s father died, never reconciling with his daughter. In 1861 Elizabeth passed away after struggling with her health for some time. She is remembered as a complex person who "expressed herself in a variety of ways- as a writer, political theorist, sister, mother, translator, daughter, critic, wife, correspondent, spiritualist, woman, patriot, friend" (Lupton 94). Although she is remembered as wife of Robert Browning, she is also renowned for her own achievements. Many of her poems famous during her lifetime are unknown today. Some can be found in anthologies (Radley 26). Her saved works are not extensive; she struggled against many prejudices directed towards women poets. Through her courage and dedication, she opened doors for women writers of the future (Cooper 5). Helen Cooper wrote in her book Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Woman and Artist that Elizabeth "challenged the universality of male poetry" and won (11).
Cooper, Helen. Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Woman and Artist.
"Elizabeth Barrett Browning". The Critical Poet. Online. 2001.
A Selected Bibliography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Poetry
(from the Academy of American Poets: http://www.poets.org/poets/poets.cfm?prmID=153)
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