MS 682
Reference code
MS 682
Title
Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett-Browning collection
Level
Sub-fonds
Administrative / Biographical history
Robert Browning (1812-1889), poet, was born on 7 May 1812 in Camberwell, London, the first of the two children of Robert Browning (1782–1866) and his wife, Sarah Anna, née Wiedemann (1772–1849). He remained close to his sister Sarianna (1814-1903) throughout his life.
He was an intelligent child who was fluent in five languages by the age of fourteen. He was also passionate about poetry and was a talented musician, composing arrangements of several songs as well as writing poetry.
At eighteen Browning made up his mind to become a poet and 'nothing else’. His first works 'Pauline' (1832) and 'Paracelsus' were published a few years later and not well received. Indeed they were mocked. Undaunted, he continued to write and in 1840 he published 'Sordello'. It was savaged by the critics. His next poetry was printed in inexpensive pamphlets under the general title 'Bells and Pomegranates' (1841-1846) starting with 'Pippa Passes'. Pamphlet three, 'Dramatic Lyrics' (1842), includes many of his greatest dramatic monologues - and indeed many of the greatest poems in the language - but it went largely unnoticed.
In 1845 he met the far more established poet Elizabeth Barrett (1806-1861). They married secretly a year later and moved to Italy, during which time they both wrote extensively. They spent the winter of 1846-7 in Pisa, where Elizabeth suffered a miscarriage. They moved to Casa Guidi, Florence, in April 1847 and this was their home for the next thirteen years. Elizabeth gave birth to a son, Robert Wiedeman Barrett Browning, called Pen, (1849-1912) on 9 March 1849. Browning's publications from that period include 'Christmas-Eve and Easter-Day' (1850), his 'Essay on Shelley' and 'Men and Women' (1855). During this time the Brownings spent time in London and Paris, meeting old friends including the Tennysons, Joseph Milsand, the Story family and Dante Gabriel Rosetti.
Even though 'Men and Women' contains some of Browning's best known poems, including 'Fra Lippo Lippi', 'Andrea del Sarto' and 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came', it was not well received. Hs poems made little impact until 1861 when, after Elizabeth’s death, he returned to England. His subsequent publication 'The Ring and the Book', a 21,000 line dramatic poem in 12 parts based on an actual 17th century murder, was published in four volumes and was a huge success, cementing his reputation as one of the foremost Victorian poets alongside his wife. He died at their son's home in Venice, Italy in 1889.
He was an intelligent child who was fluent in five languages by the age of fourteen. He was also passionate about poetry and was a talented musician, composing arrangements of several songs as well as writing poetry.
At eighteen Browning made up his mind to become a poet and 'nothing else’. His first works 'Pauline' (1832) and 'Paracelsus' were published a few years later and not well received. Indeed they were mocked. Undaunted, he continued to write and in 1840 he published 'Sordello'. It was savaged by the critics. His next poetry was printed in inexpensive pamphlets under the general title 'Bells and Pomegranates' (1841-1846) starting with 'Pippa Passes'. Pamphlet three, 'Dramatic Lyrics' (1842), includes many of his greatest dramatic monologues - and indeed many of the greatest poems in the language - but it went largely unnoticed.
In 1845 he met the far more established poet Elizabeth Barrett (1806-1861). They married secretly a year later and moved to Italy, during which time they both wrote extensively. They spent the winter of 1846-7 in Pisa, where Elizabeth suffered a miscarriage. They moved to Casa Guidi, Florence, in April 1847 and this was their home for the next thirteen years. Elizabeth gave birth to a son, Robert Wiedeman Barrett Browning, called Pen, (1849-1912) on 9 March 1849. Browning's publications from that period include 'Christmas-Eve and Easter-Day' (1850), his 'Essay on Shelley' and 'Men and Women' (1855). During this time the Brownings spent time in London and Paris, meeting old friends including the Tennysons, Joseph Milsand, the Story family and Dante Gabriel Rosetti.
Even though 'Men and Women' contains some of Browning's best known poems, including 'Fra Lippo Lippi', 'Andrea del Sarto' and 'Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came', it was not well received. Hs poems made little impact until 1861 when, after Elizabeth’s death, he returned to England. His subsequent publication 'The Ring and the Book', a 21,000 line dramatic poem in 12 parts based on an actual 17th century murder, was published in four volumes and was a huge success, cementing his reputation as one of the foremost Victorian poets alongside his wife. He died at their son's home in Venice, Italy in 1889.
Date
1812-1889
Extent & medium
6 shelves and 1 drawer
Content description
The collection consists of material by and about Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and their wider circle. Much of this is autograph manuscript material although there are also strong holdings of visual material, including original photographs and portraits, and artefacts that belonged to the Browning family.
The collection has autograph letters from and to Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, Pen Barrett-Browning (their son) and other members of the Browning circle. As well as individual autograph letters to a number of recipients, the collection also has series of letters. For example, there is a large series of letters from Browning to George Smith, his publisher and from Elizabeth Barrett-Browning to Mrs Ogilvy. There are also letters about Browning, including correspondence relating to the posthumous publication of his works between Pen Barrett-Browning, George Smith et al.
The next series contains autograph manuscripts, including manuscripts by Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and others in their circle such as Tennyson and Mary Russell Mitford. Some of these are facsimile or microfiche copies of manuscripts held in other institutions.
Following that, there is a large collection of images of Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and Pen Barrett-Browning. These include photographic portraits, cartes-de-visite, cabinet cards and prints. There is a smaller number of images of people, places and works of art that relate to the Brownings.
The collection also exemplifies the artistic talent within the Browning family. It contains a collection of watercolours by Pen and caricatures by Robert Browning Snr. (1782-1866), Robert Browning's father. Some of these caricatures are loose and others are in a bound volume.
The collection has ephemeral material relating to Browning's funeral, Browning centenaries, Mary Russell Mitford and Browning societies.
The artefacts in this collection belonged to Robert Browning and his family. They include Elizabeth Barrett-Browning's engagement ring, seals, locks of hair and an Indian dagger and scabbard.
Frederick James Furnivall (1825-1910), an English philologist who co-created the Oxford English Dictionary, formed the Browning Society in 1881. As such, this collection includes a small number of papers and printed material relating to him. There are personal papers and a collection of books and society papers by or owned by Furnivall.
Lastly there are papers about the archive, including the Vincent Baddeley papers, booksellers' notes, invoices and photocopied material.
The collection has autograph letters from and to Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, Pen Barrett-Browning (their son) and other members of the Browning circle. As well as individual autograph letters to a number of recipients, the collection also has series of letters. For example, there is a large series of letters from Browning to George Smith, his publisher and from Elizabeth Barrett-Browning to Mrs Ogilvy. There are also letters about Browning, including correspondence relating to the posthumous publication of his works between Pen Barrett-Browning, George Smith et al.
The next series contains autograph manuscripts, including manuscripts by Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and others in their circle such as Tennyson and Mary Russell Mitford. Some of these are facsimile or microfiche copies of manuscripts held in other institutions.
Following that, there is a large collection of images of Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and Pen Barrett-Browning. These include photographic portraits, cartes-de-visite, cabinet cards and prints. There is a smaller number of images of people, places and works of art that relate to the Brownings.
The collection also exemplifies the artistic talent within the Browning family. It contains a collection of watercolours by Pen and caricatures by Robert Browning Snr. (1782-1866), Robert Browning's father. Some of these caricatures are loose and others are in a bound volume.
The collection has ephemeral material relating to Browning's funeral, Browning centenaries, Mary Russell Mitford and Browning societies.
The artefacts in this collection belonged to Robert Browning and his family. They include Elizabeth Barrett-Browning's engagement ring, seals, locks of hair and an Indian dagger and scabbard.
Frederick James Furnivall (1825-1910), an English philologist who co-created the Oxford English Dictionary, formed the Browning Society in 1881. As such, this collection includes a small number of papers and printed material relating to him. There are personal papers and a collection of books and society papers by or owned by Furnivall.
Lastly there are papers about the archive, including the Vincent Baddeley papers, booksellers' notes, invoices and photocopied material.
Provenance
A large proportion of material in this archive was previously held in Michael Meredith's (MCM's) private collection that he then gave to Eton College Library. Some material, mostly images and objects, came directly to College Library via other bequests. Individual provenance information is given at series or file level when available.
Arrangement
As this collection is not an organic archive it has been artifically arranged by the cataloguer.
The material has been organised into the following series and files:
MS 682 01: Correspondence
MS 682 02: Manuscripts
MS 682 03: Images
MS 682 04: Art by members of the Browning family
MS 682 05: Ephemera
MS 682 06: Artefacts
MS 682 07: Papers relating to Frederick James Furnivall
MS 682 08: Papers about the Robert Browning collection
The series have been divided into sub-series and files where necessary, often by the individuals involved.
The material has been organised into the following series and files:
MS 682 01: Correspondence
MS 682 02: Manuscripts
MS 682 03: Images
MS 682 04: Art by members of the Browning family
MS 682 05: Ephemera
MS 682 06: Artefacts
MS 682 07: Papers relating to Frederick James Furnivall
MS 682 08: Papers about the Robert Browning collection
The series have been divided into sub-series and files where necessary, often by the individuals involved.
Associated material
The Moulton-Barrett archive (MS 681) is also at Eton College Library. It consists of the papers of Elizabeth Barrett-Browning's family and has much related material. More biographical information is given there about Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and her family.
Location of this record in the archive hierarchy
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Number 55 of 104 at this Level
Beneath this record in the archive hierarchy
- Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett-Browning collection: Correspondence to, from and relating to Robert Browning, MS 682 01, (19th century)
- Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett-Browning collection: Manuscripts of Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning and members of their circle, MS 682 02, (1823-1879)
- Images of Robert Browning, Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, Pen Barrett-Browning and related people, places and art, MS 682 03, ([1860-20th century ])
- Art by members of the Browning family, MS 682 04, ([1782-1912])
- Papers and ephemera relating to Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett-Browning, MS 682 05, ([late 19th century-20th century])
- Artefacts that belonged to Robert Browning and family, MS 682 06, ([19th century])
- Papers relating to Frederick James Furnivall, MS 682 07, ([1803-1910])
- Papers about the Robert Browning collection, MS 682 08, ([20th century - 21st century])