‘How do I love thee?’ A Victorian-era poet finds liberation.
Sep 23, 2021
3 minutes
During her lifetime, Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-61) was widely regarded as Britain’s best female poet. Her groundbreaking work helped sway public opinion against slavery and child labor and changed the direction of English-language poetry for generations.
Yet within 70 years of her death, Barrett Browning was no longer viewed as an international literary superstar but as an invalid with a small, couch-bound life. By the 1970s, critics described her as lacking the talent of
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days