An enormous literature of comment, appreciation and
interpretation has grown up around Browning, largely due to
the work of various Browning societies in this country and in
Europe. The London Browning Society especially has brought out
many papers that will be of interest to Browning students.
Other works are Arthur Symons, _Introduction to the Study of
Browning_ (London, 1886); G.W. Cooke, _Browning Guide Book_
(New York, 1901); Fotheringham, _Studies_ (London, 1898);
Stedman, _Victorian Poets_; Prof. Hiram Corson, _Introduction
to Browning_; George E. Woodberry, _Studies in Literature and
Life_; Hamilton W. Mabie, _Essays in Literary
Interpretation_; A. Birrell, _Obiter Dicta_; George
Saintsbury, _Corrected Impressions_.
The first edition of Browning's poems appeared in two volumes
in 1849, a second in three volumes in 1863 and a third in six
volumes in 1868. A revised edition containing all the poems
was issued in sixteen volumes in 1888-1889. A fine complete
edition in two volumes, edited by Augustine Birrell and F.G.
Kenyon, was issued in 1896, and Smith, Elder & Co., London,
brought out a two-volume edition in 1900. In this country the
Riverside edition of _Browning's Poetical Works_ in six
volumes, issued by Houghton, Mifflin & Co., and the Camberwell
edition in twelve handy volumes, with notes by Charlotte
Porter and Helen A. Clarke, published by Crowell, are valuable
for Browning students.
The standard life is _The Life and Letters of Robert
Browning_, by Mrs. Sutherland Orr, but valuable are _The Love
Letters of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning_,
issued by Browning's son in 1899. For Edmund Gosse's _Robert
Browning--Personalia_ the poet supplied much of the material
in notes. Good short sketches and estimates are Chesterton's
_Browning_ in the English Men of Letters series and Waugh's
_Robert Browning_.