Elizabeth Barrett Browning Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning and Robert Browning

Elizabeth Barrett BrowningElizabeth Barrett Browning

Born 1806, the eldest child of a prosperous Born 1806, the eldest child of a prosperous merchant familymerchant familySelf-educated at home from the age of fourSelf-educated at home from the age of fourComposed her first poem at the age of elevenComposed her first poem at the age of elevenSuffered an injury to her spine at the age of Suffered an injury to her spine at the age of fifteen and illness seven years later. This left her fifteen and illness seven years later. This left her an invalid all her lifean invalid all her lifeAt age of twenty published her first book of At age of twenty published her first book of poetrypoetryIn 1832, family suffered financial loss. The In 1832, family suffered financial loss. The family moved to Londonfamily moved to London

Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert BrowningRobert Browning

Due to poor health, she moved to Rorquay on the south Due to poor health, she moved to Rorquay on the south coast of Devonshirecoast of DevonshireSpent three years living as an invalidSpent three years living as an invalidReturned to London and resigned herself to life confined Returned to London and resigned herself to life confined to her bedroom as an invalid.to her bedroom as an invalid.In 1845, she began exchanging letters with Robert In 1845, she began exchanging letters with Robert BrowningBrowningThe following year they married and moved to Florence, The following year they married and moved to Florence, Italy Italy Their son Robert was born in 1849Their son Robert was born in 1849Elizabeth died in 1861Elizabeth died in 1861At the time of her death, she was more popular than At the time of her death, she was more popular than RobertRobert

Images of Elizabeth Barrett Images of Elizabeth Barrett BrowningBrowning

E.B. Browning’s PoetryE.B. Browning’s Poetry‘‘

Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850)Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850)

Casa Guidi Windows (1851)Casa Guidi Windows (1851)

Aurora Leigh (1857)Aurora Leigh (1857)

Collection of poetry published after her Collection of poetry published after her deathdeath

Sonnets from the PortugueseSonnets from the Portuguese

The sonnets record The sonnets record her love for Roberther love for RobertThe sonnets The sonnets progressed as her progressed as her relationship with relationship with Browning progressedBrowning progressedGreat outpouring of Great outpouring of feeling and intensity feeling and intensity of passionof passion

Aurora LeighAurora Leigh

Synthesis of lyric and Synthesis of lyric and narrative elements, narrative elements, literary and social theoryliterary and social theory

Foundational text for Foundational text for women poets, feminist women poets, feminist activists, and feminist activists, and feminist literary scholars.literary scholars.

A prose narrative of an A prose narrative of an artist’s developmentartist’s development