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Life of Browning by William Sharp
Please note:
The Following Books relating to Robert Browning are now online:
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Corson, Hiram. An Introduction to the Study of Robert Browning's Poetry,
3rd edition.
This book is primarily concerned with Browning's poems.
Advantages: This book is an excellent introduction to Browning.
Orr, Mrs. Sutherland. Life and Letters of Robert Browning, 2nd edition.
This book is primarily concerned with Browning's life.
Advantages: As a close friend, the author has a good grasp of the facts,
and is meticulous in her treatment of the material.
Disadvantages: As a close friend, the author is sometimes partisan.
Sharp, William. Life of Robert Browning.
Despite the title, this book is as much a critique of Browning's works
as it is a biography of the poet.
Advantages: Further removed from poet, the author is willing to make
some criticisms. As an early and frequently quoted work on the subject,
this book is a good resource.
Disadvantages: Due to carelessness on the part of the author
and his publisher, a number of factual and other errors were made.
Although this electronic text has corrected many of the obvious errors,
they are frequent enough to leave misgivings.
[Note on text: Italicized words or phrases are capitalised.
Some obvious errors may have been corrected.]
Life of Robert Browning
by William Sharp.
Contents.
Chapter 1.
London, Robert Browning's birthplace; his immediate predecessors
and contemporaries in literature, art, and music; born May 7th, 1812;
origin of the Browning family; assertions as to its Semitic connection
apparently groundless; the poet a putative descendant
of the Captain Micaiah Browning mentioned by Macaulay;
Robert Browning's mother of Scottish and German origin;
his father a man of exceptional powers, artist, poet, critic, student;
Mr. Browning's opinion of his son's writings; the home in Camberwell;
Robert Browning's childhood; concerning his optimism;
his fondness for Carravaggio's "Andromeda and Perseus"; his poetic precocity;
origin of "The Flight of the Duchess"; writes Byronic verse;
is sent to school at Peckham; his holiday afternoons; sees London by night,
from Herne Hill; the significance of the spectacle to him.