Robert Browning was born in 1812 in Camberwall, England to a religious mother and a father who worked as a bank clerk. He had almost no formal education as he was tutored at home from the age of fourteen and was only briefly enrolled at the University of London. At the age of twelve, Browning received a book of Shelley's poetry and was so influenced by the poet that he declared himself an atheist and a vegetarian soon after. In 1833, Browning anonymously published his first major work, Pauline. It was his next piece, a dramatic poem entitled "Paracelsus" that brought him attention from the literary world. 

During the following years, Robert Browning published several unsuccessful plays and a series of poems including "Pippa Passes," "My Last Duchess," and "The Bishop Orders his Tomb" under the title of Bells and Pomegranates. Despite his lack of success with literary contemporaries, the techniques he developed in his dramatic monologues are now regarded as notable contributions to classic poetry. Upon discovering the poems of Elizabeth Barrett, Robert Browning began writing letters to her, leading up to their meeting in 1845. Robert quickly fell in love with Elizabeth and convinced her to agree to a secret marriage in 1846. A week after their marriage, Robert and Elizabeth sailed for Italy, and bought a house in Florence, where he published a series of dramatic monologues entitled Men and Women. Though the monologues were not popular at the time, they are now regarded as his best works. 

Following Elizabeth's death in 1851, Browning moved back to London with his only child Robert "Pen" Browning. He published The Ring and the Book which was based upon an Italian murder trial. The Ring and the Book received critical acclaim and for the first time Robert Browning received widespread popularity. Until this time, he had been known as "Elizabeth Barrett's husband." Browning then returned to his son's home in Italy where he published his last works, Dramatic Idylls and Asolando. The latter was released on the day of his death, December 12, 1889.

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Articles About Browning, Robert

Casa Guidi, Home of The Brownings in Italy	November 15, 2007
Casa Guidi in Florence, where Robert and Elizabeth Browning spent their idyllic married life, offers us a firsthand glimpse of their lasting passion for Italy, poetry, and each other.