Introduction

Gentle Readers! My name is Elizabeth Barrett Browning and what a pleasure it is to be writing to you on this silly little contraption! Poetry is my life, so to speak, along with being widely passionate in my political views, and my darling husband, Robert Browning (you may recognize his name, he's a writer too!) Though my father loathed the idea of me getting married, he strongly encouraged that I pursue writing. I am most notable for my love poems, preferably in my book, "Sonnets From the Portuguese." The forty-third sonnet, "How Do I love Thee," is my most famous. Those poems were originally intended to be a personal gift to Robert, but being deeply enthused by them, he incessantly suggested that I publish it. Oh, what a beautiful time in Italy it was when I wrote it! Spring is in the air and what a lovely time of the year to write sonnets. Hopefully I'll find some new inspiration!