I drop it at thy feet. I cannot teach
My hand to hold my spirit so far off
From myself—me—that I should bring thee proof
In words, of love hid in me out of reach.
Nay, let the silence of my womanhood
Commend my woman-love to thy belief,—
Seeing that I stand unwon, however wooed,
And rend the garment of my life, in brief,
By a most dauntless, voiceless fortitude,
Lest one touch of this heart convey its grief

~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

We have told you about the life of her famous husband, Robert Browning, but Elizabeth Barrett herself was perhaps more famous during their lifetime than her spouse was.  It is rare when even an accomplished poet is described in the terms that American poet E. C. Stedman used for Elizabeth.  He wrote the Elizabeth was, “the greatest female poet that England has produced, but more than this, the most inspired woman so far as known, of all who have composed in ancient or modern tongues or flourished in any land or clime.”

Being fragile in body, Elizabeth lived a rather secluded life and devoted much of her time to reading books in every language and composing poetry that had the mark of genius, even those written in her adolescent years.  In 1844, she somewhat stepped out of this seclusion by publishing two volumes of "Poems by Elizabeth Barrett" and in 1846, when she was 37 years old, she married Robert.  The two moved to Italy, where Elizabeth enjoyed much better health and stayed until her death at the age of 55.

Several of her most famous works were inspired by the revolutionary outbreak in Italy in 1848, which she witnessed from the windows of her house in Florence.  It is said that she created a “golden link” between her homeland of England and Italy, which she dearly loved.

To read about her husband, Robert, and his own works, click here!