Life and Letters of Robert Browning

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Life and Letters of Robert Browning, by

Mrs. Sutherland Orr This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
Title: Life and Letters of Robert Browning
Author: Mrs. Sutherland Orr
Release Date: January 21, 2006 [EBook #655]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
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Produced by Alan Light and David Widger

LIFE AND LETTERS OF ROBERT BROWNING
by Mrs. Sutherland Orr
Second Edition

Preface
Such letters of Mr. Browning's as appear, whole or in part, in the present volume have been in most cases given to me by the persons to whom they were addressed, or copied by Miss Browning from the originals under her care; but I owe to the daughter of the Rev. W. J. Fox--Mrs. Bridell Fox--those written to her father and to Miss Flower; the two interesting extracts from her father's correspondence with herself and Mr. Browning's note to Mr. Robertson.
For my general material I have been largely indebted to Miss Browning. Her memory was the only existing record of her brother's boyhood and youth. It has been to me an unfailing as well as always accessible authority for that subsequent period of his life which I could only know in disconnected facts or his own fragmentary reminiscences. It is less true, indeed, to say that she has greatly helped me in writing this short biography than that without her help it could never have been undertaken.
I thank my friends Mrs. R. Courtenay Bell and Miss Hickey for their invaluable assistance in preparing the book for, and carrying it through the press; and I acknowledge with real gratitude the advantages derived by it from Mr. Dykes Campbell's large literary experience in his very careful final revision of the proofs.
A. Orr. April 22, 1891.

Contents
Chapter 1
Origin of the Browning Family--Robert Browning's Grandfather--His position and Character--His first and second Marriage--Unkindness towards his eldest Son, Robert Browning's Father--Alleged Infusion of West Indian Blood through Robert Browning's Grandmother--Existing Evidence against it--The Grandmother's Portrait.
Chapter 2
Robert Browning's Father--His Position in Life--Comparison between him and his Son--Tenderness towards his Son--Outline of his Habits and Character--His Death--Significant Newspaper Paragraph--Letter of Mr. Locker--Lampson--Robert Browning's Mother--Her Character and Antecedents--Their Influence upon her Son--Nervous Delicacy imparted to both her Children--Its special Evidences in her Son.
Chapter 3
1812-1826 Birth of Robert Browning--His Childhood and Schooldays--Restless Temperament--Brilliant Mental Endowments--Incidental Peculiarities--Strong Religious Feeling--Passionate Attachment to his Mother; Grief at first Separation--Fondness for Animals--Experiences of School Life--Extensive Reading--Early Attempts in Verse--Letter from his Father concerning them--Spurious Poems in Circulation--'Incondita'--Mr. Fox--Miss Flower.
Chapter 4
1826-1833 First Impressions of Keats and Shelley--Prolonged Influence of Shelley--Details of Home Education--Its Effects--Youthful Restlessness--Counteracting Love of Home--Early Friendships: Alfred Domett, Joseph Arnould, the Silverthornes--Choice of Poetry as a Profession--Alternative Suggestions; mistaken Rumours concerning them--Interest in Art--Love of good Theatrical Performances--Talent for Acting--Final Preparation for Literary Life.
Chapter 5
1833-1835 'Pauline'--Letters to Mr. Fox--Publication of the Poem; chief Biographical and Literary Characteristics--Mr. Fox's Review in the 'Monthly Repository'; other Notices--Russian Journey--Desired diplomatic Appointment--Minor Poems; first Sonnet; their Mode of Appearance--'The Trifler'--M. de Ripert-Monclar--'Paracelsus'--Letters to Mr. Fox concerning it; its Publication--Incidental Origin of 'Paracelsus'; its inspiring Motive; its Relation to 'Pauline'--Mr. Fox's Review of it in the 'Monthly Repository'--Article in the 'Examiner' by John Forster.
Chapter 6
1835-1838 Removal to Hatcham; some Particulars--Renewed Intercourse with the second Family of Robert Browning's Grandfather--Reuben Browning--William Shergold Browning--Visitors at Hatcham--Thomas Carlyle--Social Life--New Friends and Acquaintance--Introduction to Macready--New Year's Eve at Elm Place--Introduction to John Forster--Miss Fanny Haworth--Miss Martineau--Serjeant Talfourd--The 'Ion' Supper--'Strafford'--Relations with Macready--Performance of 'Strafford'--Letters concerning it from Mr. Browning and Miss Flower--Personal Glimpses of Robert Browning--Rival Forms of Dramatic Inspiration--Relation of 'Strafford' to 'Sordello'--Mr. Robertson and the 'Westminster Review'.
Chapter 7
1838-1841 First Italian Journey--Letters to Miss Haworth--Mr. John Kenyon--'Sordello'--Letter to Miss Flower--'Pippa Passes'--'Bells and Pomegranates'.
Chapter 8
1841-1844 'A Blot in the 'Scutcheon'--Letters to Mr. Frank Hill; Lady Martin--Charles Dickens--Other Dramas and Minor Poems--Letters to Miss Lee; Miss Haworth; Miss Flower--Second Italian Journey; Naples--E. J. Trelawney--Stendhal.
Chapter 9
1844-1849 Introduction to Miss Barrett--Engagement--Motives for Secrecy--Marriage--Journey to Italy--Extract of Letter from Mr. Fox--Mrs. Browning's Letters to Miss Mitford--Life at Pisa--Vallombrosa--Florence; Mr. Powers; Miss Boyle--Proposed British Mission to the Vatican--Father Prout--Palazzo Guidi--Fano; Ancona--'A Blot in the 'Scutcheon' at Sadler's Wells.
Chapter 10
1849-1852 Death of Mr. Browning's Mother--Birth of his Son--Mrs. Browning's Letters continued--Baths of Lucca--Florence again--Venice--Margaret Fuller Ossoli--Visit to England--Winter in Paris--Carlyle--George Sand--Alfred de Musset.
Chapter 11
1852-1855 M. Joseph Milsand--His close Friendship with Mr. Browning; Mrs. Browning's Impression of him--New Edition of Mr. Browning's Poems--'Christmas Eve and Easter Day'--'Essay' on Shelley--Summer in London--Dante Gabriel Rossetti--Florence; secluded Life--Letters from Mr. and Mrs. Browning--'Colombe's Birthday'--Baths of Lucca--Mrs. Browning's Letters--Winter in Rome--Mr. and Mrs. Story--Mrs. Sartoris--Mrs. Fanny Kemble--Summer in London--Tennyson--Ruskin.
Chapter 12
1855-1858 'Men and Women'--'Karshook'--'Two in the Campagna'--Winter in Paris; Lady Elgin--'Aurora Leigh'--Death of Mr. Kenyon and Mr.