Elizabeth Barrett Browning - A Heavy Heart, Beloved, Have I Borne (Poetry Reading)

Poetry Reading by Shanid.
ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING (1806-1861)
Born Elizabeth Barrett at Kelloe, Durham, England. Elizabeth's family had lived on their sugar plantations in Jamaica since the 1700s, but she grew up on a lavish estate in England. Educated at home by a tutor. Elizabeth became seriously ill as a teenager that she was prescribed opiates; her ill health continued throughout her life. It was her collection, 'Poems' (1844) that not only brought her public recognition but also attracted the attention of Robert Browning. The couple courted in secret and married in 1846 without the permission of her father. They made Florence, Italy, their home. 'Sonnets of the Portuguese' (1850), a collection of love sonnets for her new husband, proved to be very popular. Died in 1861 in Florence, Italy.
Further reading:
'The Collected Poems of Elizabeth Barrett Browning' (Wordsworth Poetry Library)