1-158-888 - Ann Ronan Picture Library/Heritage-Images

Robert Browning, English poet and dramatist, 1882. Born in Camberwell, London, Browning (1812-1889) published his first poem Pauline in 1833 and achieved his first critical success with the long dramatic poem Paracelsus in 1835. In 1846 he eloped with the poet Elizabeth Barrett and they settled in Italy. The Ring and the Book referred to in the caption of this cartoon is the 21,000 line blank verse poem published in 1868-1869 which firmly established Browning's reputation. Cartoon in the Fancy Portraits series from Punch (London, 22 July 1882).