SD1982. Elizabeth Clementine Kinney to Edmund Clarence Stedman

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 23, 254–255 (in part).

Casa del Bello, Florence,

October 24th 1856.

My very dear Son:

… Our aim here is to keep out of society; but it has been difficult; for society will come to those who have position. However, for the first two years we gathered around us only a delightful literary circle. The Brownings, the Tennysons, the Trollopes, Mr Lever, T.B. Read, Lytton—son of Bulwer & himself the “Owen Meredith” whose poems have recently made such a noise of praise—Miss Blagden, also an English poet, Mr Jarvis, author of a work on Paris, “Art Hints” &c & many other authors & artists were our friends. The circle has mostly dispersed, tho’ all sorts of people go & come daily. The Brownings will be in “Casa Guidi” here again soon; they are now in London taking her new poem thro’ the press. She is the frailest of mortals to look at, but as true a woman as she is true poet. Mr Browning is a more interesting conversationist than poet. Both are learned, in the highest sense of the word & charming people. …

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Columbia University.

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