Robert Browning is believed to be one of the first famous people to have their recorded voice played after their death. In April of 1889, eight months before his death, Browning went to a gathering at a friend’s house where he recorded himself reciting “How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix” on an Edison cylinder phonograph. The recording was played on the first anniversary of his death. It still exists today and can be listened to on YouTube. [1]
English poet and playwright Robert Browning died on 12 December 1889 after a prolific life marked by literary success and personal contentment. While Browning’s early works gained recognition, it was during the latter part of his life that he truly cemented his status as a literary giant.
Born in London in May 1812, Browning married fellow poet Elizabeth Barrett in 1846, and the couple settled in Florence, Italy. This period was one of great personal and creative growth. The two poets supported and inspired each other, and their correspondence is considered one of the greatest literary exchanges in history. The Browning residence in Florence, Casa Guidi, became a hub for intellectual and artistic circles.
During these years, Browning produced some of his most celebrated works, including Men and Women (1855) and Dramatis Personae (1864). His poetry, characterized by its psychological depth and dramatic monologues, showcased Browning’s mastery of language and exploration of human nature. The Ring and the Book (1868-1869), an ambitious narrative poem, is often regarded as his magnum opus.
Personal tragedy hit in 1861 when Elizabeth died, and the following year Browning returned to London where his reputation started to take off and his later years saw him receive numerous honours and accolades. In 1884, he was named Poet Laureate, succeeding Alfred, Lord Tennyson. Browning’s popularity grew, and he became a highly respected figure in literary and social circles.
Robert Browning passed away on 12 December 1889, at the age of 77, at his son’s home in Venice. He was buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey where his grave lies immediately adjacent to that of Alfred Tennyson.
Browning’s death marked the end of an era in Victorian literature, but his legacy endured. His influence on poetry, particularly his exploration of the human psyche and innovative use of dramatic monologue, has continued to resonate with future generations of writers and he is remembered as a key figure in Victorian poetry.
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