The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume 2

"The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume 2" by Browning is a collection of poetry written in the late 19th century. This volume encompasses various themes, ranging from love and loss to social issues, presented through rich imagery and emotional depth. Notable pieces include "The Romaunt of Margret," reflecting on the complicated nature of love, and "The Cry of the Children," which addresses themes of social justice and the plight of youth. The opening of this volume begins with "The Romaunt of Margret," where the titular character finds herself by a river, lost in contemplation and the complexities of love. The poem introduces a hauntingly romantic ambiance, detailing her thoughts as she interacts with the natural world around her, which mirrors her emotional state. Throughout the verses, the interplay of love and loss unfolds, leading Margret to confront the shadows of her heart and the realities of human connection. The initial poems effectively set the tone for the collection, combining personal introspection with broader social themes, inviting readers into Browning's rich poetic world. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was an English poet of the Victorian era, popular in Britain and the United States during her lifetime and frequently anthologised after her death. Her work received renewed attention following the feminist scholarship of the 1970s and 1980s, and greater recognition of women writers in English. Born in County Durham, the eldest of 12 children, Elizabeth Barrett wrote poetry from the age of eleven. Her mother's collection of her poems forms one of the largest extant collections of juvenilia by any English writer. At 15, she became ill, suffering intense head and spinal pain for the rest of her life. Later in life, she also developed lung problems, possibly tuberculosis. She took laudanum for the pain from an early age, which is likely to have contributed to her frail health.