Elizabeth Barrett was a genuine celebrity of her time - and also she was as ill and fragile as your ancient Aunt Eleanor. Robert Browning was six years younger, a celebrity in his own right, and as unconcerned about societal conventions as any man born in the Victorian age could be. Their letters to one another, preceding their scandalous elopement, are mesmerizing. He tells her he loves her in his first letter! He writes a shocking letter that she makes him burn! He brings her back to life, when she has pretty much decided death is looking quite appealing - and that really happened.

I can't pick these two volumes up without becoming hypnotized by them - it's like falling off a cliff into endless space. Their poetry will never read the same to you after reading their letters. Elizabeth's "Sonnets from the Portuguese" brings to life the woman who was at the brink of death, and who was resurrected by (I can't help it - it's true) - well, by the power of true love. Robert's poetry bursts all over the place with the energy of the guy whose mind and heart were so full of life and ideas that he can hardly take the time to make them clear to the reader. They were Real People. And their story is beyond amazing. ( )