The Swan's Nest Among the Reeds - Selected Bird Poems of Elizabeth Barrett Browning

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Archibald Thorburn

This charming little pocket book contains a choice collection of 9 bird-related poems written by seminal English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. "The Swan's Nest Among the Reeds" is a wonderful, travel-friendly compendium containing delightful bird poetry partnered with beautiful colour illustrations by Archibald Thorburn that will appeal to naturalists, twitchers and literature lovers alike. The perfect gift for birdwatchers and others who like to roam and read. Contents include: “Birds and Poets, an Excerpt by John Burroughs”, “An Island”, “My Doves”, “The Sea-Mew”, “The Poet and the Bird”, “Patience Taught by Nature”, “The Romance of the Swan's Nest”, “A Drama of Exile: Bird Spirit”, “Paraphrase on Anacreon: Ode to the Swallow”, and “Bianca Among the Nightingales”. Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806– 1861) was an English poet of the Victorian era who garnered significant renown in both Britain and the United States. Browning began writing poetry from the age of eleven and her early work, kept safe by her mother, constitutes one of the largest collections of juvenilia in existence. Her poetry collection “Poems” (1844) brought her popular acclaim, as well the attention of Robert Browning. Fearing her father's disapproval, the two corresponded and eventually in secret. Browning had a significant influence on many writers of her day, including Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allan Poe. Other notable works by this writer include: "How Do I Love Thee?" (1845) and “Aurora Leigh” (1856). Ragged Hand is proud to be publishing this brand new collection of classic poetry now complete with illustrations by Archibald Thorburn and an excerpt by John Burroughs.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ragged Hand
• Release date: Oct 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781528792844

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) was an English poet. The daughter of a wealthy family—her father made his fortune as a slave owner in Jamaica, while her mother’s family owned and operated sugar plantations, mills, and ships—Browning eventually became an abolitionist and advocate for child labor laws. Her marriage to the prominent Victorian poet Robert Browning caused the final break between Browning and her family, after which she moved to Italy and lived there with Robert for the rest of her life. She began writing poems at a young age, finding success with the 1844 publication of Poems. Browning went on to be recognized as one of the foremost poets of early Victorian England, influencing such writers as Edgar Allen Poe and Emily Dickinson. She is most famous for her Sonnets from the Portuguese, a collection of 44 love poems published in 1850, and Aurora Leigh, an 1856 epic poem described by leading Victorian critic John Ruskin as the greatest long poem written in the nineteenth century. Browning suffered from numerous illnesses throughout her life, eventually succumbing in Florence at the age of 55.

Book preview

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THE SWAN'S NEST

AMONG THE REEDS

SELECTED BIRD

POEMS OF

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

With Illustrations by

ARCHIBALD THORBURN

Copyright © 2021 Ragged Hand

This edition is published by Ragged Hand,

an imprint of Read & Co.

This book is copyright and may not be

reproduced or copied in any way without the express permission of the publisher in writing.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available

from the British Library.

Read & Co. is part of Read Books Ltd.

For more information visit

www.readandcobooks.co.uk

Contents

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING

By John William Cousin

BIRDS AND POETS

An Excerpt by John Burroughs

THE SWAN'S NEST AMONG THE REEDS

Selected Bird Poems of Elizabeth Barrett Browning

AN ISLAND

MY DOVES

THE SEA-MEW

THE POET AND THE BIRD

PATIENCE TAUGHT BY NATURE

THE ROMANCE OF THE SWAN'S NEST

A DRAMA OF EXILE: BIRD SPIRIT

PARAPHRASE ON ANACREON: ODE TO THE SWALLOW

BIANCA AMONG THE NIGHTINGALES

Illustrations

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Bluetits

Spotted Flycatchers

Wood-Pigeon, or Ring-Dove

Nepalese Black-Headed Nun

Great Black-Backed Gull

A Male Wheatear

Bewick's Swan, Whooper Swan & Mute Swan (Adult and Young)

Robin

Pair of Redstarts

Red-Rumped Swallow & Swallow

Nightingale

Pied Flycatcher

Bearded Titmouse

ELIZABETH

BARRETT BROWNING

By John William Cousin

A Poetess, was the daughter of Edward Barrett Moulton Barrett, who assumed the last name on succeeding to the estates of his grandfather in Jamaica. She was born at Coxhoe Hall, Durham, but spent her youth at Hope End, near Great Malvern. While still a child she showed her gift, and her first published work was 50 copies