arlyle, and Poe. Poe even wrote an introduction in Elizabeth’s two-volume edition of poetry Poems in 1844. She truly began her literary career in 1838. Elizabeth moved to Torquay for her health and was often accompanied by different family members but her favorite was her brother, Edward. Elizabeth’s uncle passed away that same year leaving her financially secure. In 1840, Edward drowned in Babbacombe Bay off Torquay. She then wrote “De Profundis” expressing her grief. In 1840, Elizabeth wrote “The Cry of the Children”. In 1841 she returned to London, still an invalid, and began working on reviews, articles, and translations. In 1842 she published “The Cry of the Children” which helped to bring about some regulation of child labor, this is also one of her more known works. In 1844 she publishes a two-volume edition of Poems, after the publication of Poems, Robert Browning pledged his undying love for Elizabeth in a letter to her. Robert Browning visited her in London and their love grew. She began working on a series of love poems, Sonnets from the Portuguese, named from Robert’s pet name for her “The Portuguese”. Elizabeth’s father forbid any of his children to ever marry so Elizabeth and Robert secretly married in London on September 12, 1846. They traveled through Europe and settled in Florence. Elizabeth’s health improved, their marriage was happy, and a son was born. In 1849 Robert Barrett-Browning was born and they called him “Pen”. It was his birth that caused Elizabeth to publish a second volume of Poems including Sonnets from the Portuguese. In 1850 Elizabeth received mention in the literary journal, The Athenaeum as the leading candidate to succeed Wordsworth as poet laureate. One year later, she published Casa Guidi Windows, about Italy’s politics. Elizabeth published Aurora Leigh in 1857, the year her father die...
