Robert Browning

Robert Browning was an English poet and playwright born in 1812 and active during the Victorian era. He is best known for developing the dramatic monologue, a form in which a speaker reveals character through a one-sided conversation. His early works included narrative poems such as 'Pauline' and 'Paracelsus'. The collections Men and Women and Dramatis Personae contain many of his most studied monologues. His long blank-verse poem The Ring and the Book tells the story of a murder trial from twelve different points of view. Browning's poetry often examines psychological states, moral dilemmas, and the search for truth. His style features colloquial diction, abrupt openings, and complex syntax. He married the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning in 1846, and they lived in Italy until her death. Browning returned to England and continued to write until his death in 1889. He is considered one of the major poets of the 19th century.