Life of Robert Browning | Page 3

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Life of Browning by William Sharp

Please note: The Following Books relating to Robert Browning are now
online: ---------------------------------------------------------------
Corson, Hiram. An Introduction to the Study of Robert Browning's
Poetry, 3rd edition. This book is primarily concerned with Browning's
poems. Advantages: This book is an excellent introduction to
Browning.
Orr, Mrs. Sutherland. Life and Letters of Robert Browning, 2nd edition.
This book is primarily concerned with Browning's life. Advantages: As
a close friend, the author has a good grasp of the facts, and is
meticulous in her treatment of the material. Disadvantages: As a close
friend, the author is sometimes partisan.
Sharp, William. Life of Robert Browning. Despite the title, this book is
as much a critique of Browning's works as it is a biography of the poet.
Advantages: Further removed from poet, the author is willing to make
some criticisms. As an early and frequently quoted work on the subject,
this book is a good resource. Disadvantages: Due to carelessness on the
part of the author and his publisher, a number of factual and other
errors were made. Although this electronic text has corrected many of
the obvious errors, they are frequent enough to leave misgivings.

[Note on text: Italicized words or phrases are capitalised. Some obvious
errors may have been corrected.]

Life of Robert Browning
by William Sharp.

Contents.

Chapter 1
.
London, Robert Browning's birthplace; his immediate predecessors and
contemporaries in literature, art, and music; born May 7th, 1812; origin
of the Browning family; assertions as to its Semitic connection
apparently groundless; the poet a putative descendant of the Captain
Micaiah Browning mentioned by Macaulay; Robert Browning's mother
of Scottish and German origin; his father a man of exceptional powers,
artist, poet, critic, student; Mr. Browning's opinion of his son's writings;
the home in Camberwell; Robert Browning's childhood; concerning his
optimism; his fondness for Carravaggio's "Andromeda and Perseus";
his poetic precocity; origin of "The Flight of the Duchess"; writes
Byronic verse; is sent to school at Peckham; his holiday afternoons;
sees London by night, from Herne Hill; the significance of the
spectacle to him.
Chapter 2
.
He wishes to be a poet; writes in the style of Byron and Pope; the
"Death of Harold"; his poems, written when twelve years old, shown to
Miss Flower; the Rev. W. J. Fox's criticisms on them; he comes across
Shelley's "Daemon of the World"; Mrs. Browning procures Shelley's
poems, also those of Keats, for her son; the perusal of these volumes
proves an important event in his poetic development; he leaves school
when fourteen years old, and studies at home under a tutor; attends a
few lectures at University College, 1829-30; chooses his career, at the

age of twenty; earliest record of his utterances concerning his youthful
life printed in `Century Magazine', 1881; he plans a series of
monodramatic epics; Browning's lifework, collectively one
monodramatic "epic"; Shakespeare's and Browning's methods
compared; Browning writes "Pauline" in 1832; his own criticism on it;
his parents' opinions; his aunt's generous gift; the poem published in
January 1833; description of the poem; written under the inspiring
stimulus of Shelley; its autopsychical significance; its importance to the
student of the poet's works; quotations from "Pauline".
Chapter 3
.
The public reception of "Pauline"; criticisms thereupon; Mr. Fox's
notice in the `Monthly Repository', and its results; Dante Gabriel
Rossetti reads "Pauline" and writes to the author; Browning's reference
to Tennyson's reading of "Maud" in 1855; Browning frequents literary
society; reads at the British Museum; makes the acquaintance of
Charles Dickens and "Ion" Talfourd; a volume of poems by Tennyson
published simultaneously with "Pauline"; in 1833 he commences his
travels; goes to Russia; the sole record of his experiences there to be
found in the poem "Ivan Ivanovitch", published in `Dramatic Idyls',
1879; his acquaintance with Mazzini; Browning goes to Italy; visits
Asolo, whence he drew hints for "Sordello" and "Pippa Passes"; in
1834 he returns to Camberwell;