E510705A. Prometheus Bound, and Other Poems; Including Sonnets from the Portuguese, Casa Guidi Windows, etc. (New York, 1851).
The Home Journal, 5 July 1851, p. 4.
As reprinted in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 17, 326.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning is undoubtedly the most spiritual and vigorous female writer of poetry of the age. She is at once a thorough scholar and a true woman, and writes from genuine sentiment and high aspiration. Our readers are doubtless familiar with the only complete edition of her previous writings, issued a few months ago by the same house to which we are indebted for the present volume. Those who have not learned to appreciate her lofty and touching verses, have a great pleasure in store. To such as know her, we need not commend anything from her pen. We cannot, however, forbear saying that a peculiar interest invests the present volume. After Miss Barrett married Robert Browning—a man of peculiar and exquisite genius—they went to Italy. From her windows in Florence she had glimpses of the late struggle for liberty, and these induced her to think and feel on the subject; the result is before us. In addition, we have all her poems not included in the other two volumes, and a series of sonnets—the best in the English language, since Wordsworth’s last, and full of intellect, sensibility and grace. We shall refer again to this book, and, meantime, earnestly recommend it as a companion in the country.
Reviewed:
Prometheus Bound, and Other Poems (EBB), New York: C.S. Francis, 1851.
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