SD2755. Queen Victoria to Princess Victoria

As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 31, 317 (in part).

Windsor Castle,

March 1, 1865

I had a reception yesterday of the whole Corps Diplomatique at Buckingham Palace—a great bore. …

I have all along meant to ask you if you have ever read an extraordinary poem by a lady now dead a Mrs. Browning (Augusta Stanley knows her) called “Aurora Leigh”? The Countess read it to me. It is very strange, very original full of talent and of some beautiful things—but at times dreadfully coarse—though very moral in its tendency—but an incredible book for a lady to have written. It would interest you, we both thought, as there is much genius in it.

Text: Your Dear Letter: Private Correspondence of Queen Victoria and the Crown Princess of Prussia, 1865–1871, ed. Roger Fulford (New York, 1971), pp. 18–19.

___________________