SD1811. Journal Entry of Elizabeth Clementine Kinney

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 21, 373 (in part).

[Florence]

April 20th. [1855]

Mrs Browning tells me that it is with her, as with me; that nothing takes shape in her brain till she is ready to transfer it to paper. Mr Browning, on the contrary, not only conceives, but carries the thought within him, till it is formed & ripened, & he says that Shelley composed his whole Tragedy & produced it at once, finished from his brain. Perhaps this is the reason why so many of this most spiritual of poet’s productions are vague & shadowy.

Publication: None traced.

Manuscript: Columbia University.

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