Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Six years his elder and an invalid, Elizabeth could not believe that the young and vigorous Browning loved her as much as he claimed. Her doubts about his love are expressed in Sonnets from the Portuguese, which she wrote over the next two years. Love conquered all, and imitating his hero Shelley, Robert whisked his beloved away to Italy in August of 1846. Being proper Victorians, however, they were secretly wed a week before.

At her husband’s insistence, Elizabeth published her second volume of poems, including her love sonnets, after the birth of their son in 1849. This helped to solidify her popularity and to increase the critical esteem in which the Victorians held their favorite poetess. Elizabeth was even considered for the post of Poet Laureate after the death of Wordsworth in 1850. The position went to Tennyson.

It is still unclear what sort of affliction Elizabeth suffered from. It is clear, however, that the opium that was repeatedly prescribed was not helping and that Robert Browning almost certainly lengthened her life by moving her south and by his attentions.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning died in her husband’s arms on June 29, 1861, at the age of 55.

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