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Tuesday, February 14, 2012

'I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett'

de bene esse: literally, of well-being, morally acceptable but subject to future validation or exception

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The romantic words from one poet to another which are now available online are 573 love letters between 19th century poet Elizabeth Barrett and her future husband, Robert Browning. The letters have long fascinated scholars and poetry fans.


Although transcriptions of their correspondence have been published, the handwritten letters could only be seen at Wellesley College, near Boston, U.S., where the collection has been kept since 1930.

Barrett, one of the most well-known poets of the Victorian era, suffered from chronic illness and was in her late 30s when Browning first wrote her in 1845 to tell her he admired her work.


After more than a year of almost daily letters between them, the couple married in secret in September 1846, defying her father's prohibition against her ever marrying.

The website designed for readers to view the correspondence includes handwritten letters and transcriptions, as well as a zoom function for readers to decipher faded or illegible words.



The body of letters will also be searchable by keywords.


Readers will share their journey as they find love together, while corresponding about other writers, philosophy and their own work.


Barrett first wrote the lines of what would become her most famous poem after she met Browning, 'How Do I Love Thee? Let me count the ways.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2101034/Valentines-Day-messages-Elizabeth-Barretts-romantic-verses-Robert-Browning-online.html#ixzz1mPv8IlIh

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