The Love Affair of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett

The love affair between Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett is one of the Victorian era’s most famous romances. It was one of passions, tragedy, illness, and ultimately, endurance.

The beginning of their relationship was luckily documented and preserved via their letters, which have been archived at Wellesley College since 1930. While these exchanges are some of the most popular reads for Victorian literature enthusiasts, Robert had more to say about the abstract idea of love.

He continued to express his thoughts and feelings on the subject of romance, marriage, familial love and respect, unrequited love, loving thyself, and even friendship. Robert Browning On Love conveniently collects these thoughts, which have been previously published in Browning’s poems, plays, and, of course, his letters to his beloved wife, Elizabeth.

These include:

“Best be yourself, imperial, plain, and true.”

“Take away love and our earth is a tomb.”

“I was made and meant to look for you and wait for you and become yours forever.”

“Love, hope, fear, faith—these make humanity; these are its sign and note and character.”