Tag Archives: Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“For never has such soothing voice / Been to your shadowy world convey’d…” — Matthew Arnold on William Wordsworth

“I have said that poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings; it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquillity; the emotion is contemplated till by a species of reaction the tranquillity gradually disappears, and an emotion, kindred to … Continue reading

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“Since when was genius found respectable?” – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

It’s her birthday today. I have a beautiful red-leather bound copy of The Complete Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, bought at a second-hand store. The publication date is 1882, with a foreword by Mrs. Browning herself. She died in … Continue reading

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“Best be yourself, imperial, plain, and true.” – Robert Browning

“Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?” — Robert Browning “Andrea del Sarto” It’s Robert Browning’s birthday today. “Imperial”. Spoken like a true Victorian. We had to read Robert Browning’s poem “Meeting at … Continue reading

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It’s Ezra Pound’s Birthday: “Do not retell in mediocre verse what has already been done in good prose.”

And give up verse, my boy, There’s nothing in it. — Ezra Pound I grew up hearing stories of Ezra Pound. Not the stories of his fascism or his relaxing time in a cage in Italy, or being indicted for … Continue reading

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The Books: The Complete Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Daily Book Excerpt: Poetry The next book on my poetry shelf is a beautiful red-leather bound copy of The Complete Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, bought at a second-hand store. The publication date is 1882, with a foreword by … Continue reading

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Understanding

“Well, I hope they understand one another – nobody else would.” — Wordsworth, 1846 – musing on the marriage of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning

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“the simple truth is”

The simple truth is that she was the poet, and I the clever person by comparison. — Robert Browning on his wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1871

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“love you, love you”

If it will satisfy you that I should know you, love you, love you – why then indeed … You should have my soul to stand on if it could make you stand higher. — Elizabeth Barrett to Robert Browning, … Continue reading

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Famous Last Words

John Adams – died July 4, 1826: “Thomas Jefferson–still survives…” (or perhaps … “Thomas Jefferson … lives…” There are enough eyewitness accounts to believe that he said something along those lines.) On the exact same day, Thomas Jefferson died. He … Continue reading

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LM Montgomery on Elizabeth Barrett Browning

“I don’t care a hoot for Mrs. Browning.”

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