The Literary Elopement of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning
Poets involved
What happened
Elizabeth Barrett, an invalid reclusive poet living under the absolute control of her tyrannical father in London, received a passionate fan letter from the younger poet Robert Browning. This initiated a secret, intense courtship of 591 letters that culminated in their elopement and secret marriage at St. Marylebone Parish Church in 1846. The couple fled to Florence, Italy, where Elizabeth's health dramatically improved, and they lived in a blissful, highly productive artistic partnership until her death in 1861.
Literary impact
This remarkable courtship directly inspired Elizabeth's masterwork, 'Sonnets from the Portuguese', which became one of the most celebrated collections of love poetry in English literature, featuring the famous line 'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways'. Their supportive creative partnership also nurtured Robert Browning's development of the dramatic monologue, helping him produce his finest work.
Source: Wikipedia
