Robert Browning
Robert Browning was born on May 7th, 1812. Robert passed away December 13th, 1901 at 89 years old. Robert Browning was born in Camberwell, Surrey, England. Browning attended University College London.
Robert Browning was an English poet who became best known for his rendition of
The Pied Piper story.
The poet was the son of a devout and religious mother, Sarah Anna Wiedemann, and a clerk at the Bank of England, Robert Browning. His father had once aspired to a career in scholarship and the arts but was steered into banking out of financial necessity.
Even so, his father maintained a vast personal library of more than 6,000 books, which Browning read voraciously throughout his childhood and early adulthood. As a child, he was introduced to the
Trojan War through his father's collection and read Alexander Pope’s version of Homer’s
Iliad. Eager to experience the story in its original form, he eventually learned Greek to read the
Iliad in its native language.
From a young age, Browning was drawn to poetry and never seriously considered another profession. Fortunately, his parents were supportive and financially secure enough to fund the publication of his early work and cover his daily expenses. His first published poem was
Pauline: A Fragment of a Confession.
He also explored playwriting for the stage, though this endeavor met with limited success. Despite the support of his patron William Macready, Browning struggled to produce compelling or intricately plotted dramas, which eventually led to Macready's disappointment.
However, during this period of creative experimentation, Browning wrote what would become one of his most famous works:
The Pied Piper. His earlier experience in poetry and drama laid the foundation for his eventual mastery of the dramatic monologue—a literary form for which he is still celebrated today.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin stands as a prime example of a narrative poem in a style reminiscent of Homer’s
Iliad. It tells the story of a mysterious piper who arrives in the town of Hamelin to rid it of a rat infestation. After the townspeople agree on a fee, he plays his magical pipe and leads the rats away. But when the townspeople refuse to pay, he returns and uses the same music to lead all their children into a hidden mountain cave—never to be seen again.
Related Authors
Fans of Robert Browning also enjoy these authors:
- J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series.
- Brandon Sanderson, author of the Mistborn Series.
- Neil Gaiman, author of the American Gods Series.
- Anonymous Anonymous, author of the Books by Anonymous Authors.
- Arthur Conan Doyle, author of: The Hound of the Baskervilles.
Robert Browning: F.A.Q
When was Robert Browning Born?
Robert Browning was born on May 7th, 1812.
When did Robert Browning die?
Robert Browning died on December 13th, 1901 at 89 years old.
Where was Robert Browning Born?
Robert Browning was born in Camberwell, Surrey, England.
What was the first book Robert Browning wrote?
The first book written by Robert Browning was Pauline: A Fragment of a confession, published in 1833.
What was the most recent book Robert Browning wrote?
His most recently released work was Love Poems From The Works Of Robert Browning And Elizabeth Barrett Browning (a short story) on October 27th, 2022.
What is the most popular book by Robert Browning?
Based on the number of readers on Book Notification, the most popular Robert Browning book is
The Pied Piper of Hamelin. Here are his most popular books:
- The Pied Piper of Hamelin (10)
- Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came (8)
- Robert Browning (10)
How many books has Robert Browning written?
Robert Browning has written 45 books excluding contributions to anthologies. 35 Standalone Novels, 4 Collections, 1 book in the Play, 3 books in the Poetry, 1 book in the Everyman's Library Pocket Poets Series, 2 books in the Elizabeth Barrett Browning Poetry, 2 Elizabeth Barrett Browning Non-Fiction Books, 1 book in the Poetry for Young People Series.