The love story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning has been well documented, starting with the poets themselves. Robert Browning’s first letter to Elizabeth—whom he had not yet met at the time—included a confession of his love for her. The beauty of her poetry had been enough to make Browning—a well-known poet himself—fall for the woman who would soon become his wife. During their courtship, the lovers exchanged no fewer than 600 letters. At the same time, Elizabeth Barrett explored her growing feelings through poems she kept to herself—a collection that would one day be published as Sonnets from the Portuguese.
The legacy of the poets’ romance has stood the test of time and been immortalized in both film and theatre. In 1930, Rudolph Besier wrote a successful play about the couple entitled The Barretts of Wimpole Street. The theatrical piece centered on the couple’s courtship and highlighted Mr. Barrett’s disapproval of his daughter’s relationship. It was first performed in the UK and later in the United States, eventually appearing on Broadway. The play brought the poets greater popularity in the United States and went on to inspire two film adaptations. In 1964, a musical based on the play was staged in London under the title Robert and Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth Barrett Browning passed away in Florence, Italy, in 1861, Robert Browning chose to leave the country with their young son Pen. He would stay away from Italy for 17 years and never again return to Florence, as the memory of his late wife was too much to bear. While he would survive Elizabeth by 28 years, he never remarried.
To this day, Elizabeth Barrett Browning is best known for the romantic poems she dedicated to her husband. Their letters, poetry, and numerous depictions in film and theatre are a testament to the enduring power of their love.
