Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Biography
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 1988
400
Biography • Nonfiction
England • 19th Century
1988
Adult
18+ years
Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Biography by Margaret Forster is a detailed account of the life of English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Forster utilizes newly discovered historical artifacts to challenge popular myths about Barrett Browning’s health and relationship with her father, presenting her as an intellectually vibrant but fiercely private individual who chose her solitude. The biography examines her early life, her relationship with Robert Browning, and her later years in Italy, highlighting personal struggles, including multiple miscarriages and her treatment of her female servants. Topics include mistreatment of domestic workers and reproductive health challenges.
Informative
Contemplative
Melancholic
Inspirational
Emotional
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Margaret Forster's Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Biography is lauded for its meticulous research and captivating portrayal of Browning's life. However, some critics note a lack of in-depth literary analysis. Overall, it offers a rich and engaging look at the poet, marred slightly by its less comprehensive examination of her work.
Readers who appreciate deep dives into literary lives, like those captivated by Hermione Lee’s Virginia Woolf or Claire Tomalin’s Jane Austen: A Life, will relish Margaret Forster’s thorough exploration of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Ideal for fans of detailed, context-rich biographies centered on classic poets and their worlds.
310 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
400
Biography • Nonfiction
England • 19th Century
1988
Adult
18+ years
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