Robert Browning

Robert Browning (1812-1889) was a poet, one of the two greatest in the Victorian era, born in Camberwell. Early given to write verses and prepared himself for his literary career by reading through Johnson's Dictionary. His first poem "Pauline" was published in 1833, which was followed by "Paracelsus" in 1835, "Sordello" in 1840. After a time, in which he was not idle, appeared, with some of his "Dramatic Romances and Lyrics," in 1855 his "Men and Women," and in 1868 "The Ring and the Book", his longest poem, and more analytic than poetic. This was succeeded by a succession of others, finishing up with "Asolando," which appeared the day he died at Venice.

He was a poet of great subtlety, deep insight, creative power, and strong faith, of a genius and learning which there are few able to compass the length and breadth of. He lies buried in Westminster Abbey. Of Browning it has been said by Professor Saintsbury, "Timor mortis non conturbabat, 'the fear of death did not trouble him.' In the browner shades of age as well as in the spring of youth he sang, not like most poets, Love and Death, but Love and Life.... 'James Lee,' 'Rabbi Ben Ezra,' and 'Prospice' are among the greatest poems of the century." His creed was an optimism of the brightest, and his restful faith "it is all right with the world".

Wisdom & Quotes

• How very hard it is

To be a Christian!
- Easter-Day

• Oh, to be in England now that April's there.

- Home Thoughts, from Abroad

• That's the wise thrush; he sings each song twice over,

Lest you think he never could recapture
The first fine careless rapture!
- Home thoughts from abroad

• The years at the spring

And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on his thorn:
God's in his heaven -
All's right with the world.
- Pippa Passes

• Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made.
- Rabbi Ben Ezra

• Make us happy and you make us good.

- The Ring and the Book

• Everyone soon or late comes round by Rome.

- The Ring and the Book

• Youth means love.

- The Ring and the Book

• She had

A heart - how shall I say? - too soon made glad,
Too easily impressed.
- My Last Duchess

• Oh, the wild joys of living!

- Saul

• Less is more.

- Andrea del Sarto

• Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp,

Or What's a heaven for?
- Andrea del Sarto

• Progress, man's distinctive mark alone,

Not God's and not the beasts'.
- A Death in the Desert

• Progress is

The law of life, man is not man as yet.
- Paracelsus

• What so wild as words are?

- A Woman's Last Word

Alexander Herzen