The eminent 18th-century English literary critic and polymath Samuel Johnson once wrote, "There is, indeed, no transaction which offers stronger temptations to fallacy and sophistication than epistolary intercourse." Had Johnson lived long enough to read the correspondence between Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, he might not have been so quick to decry the art of letter writing. This Valentine’s Day, the courtship letters of two of the most famous Victorian poets were made publicly available online. Suffused with ardent intimacy and candor, the letters not only afford readers a glimpse into the Browning’s burgeoning romance, but also illuminate their views on each other’s aesthetics as well as contemporary affairs.
Read Full Article »
