Sonnets from the Portuguese and Other Poems

Written between 1845 and 1846 and first published in 1850, “Sonnets from the Portuguese” is a series of love poems written by the English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning to her husband, the famous English poet and playwright, Robert Browning, which was critically acclaimed and instantly popular upon its publication and has remained so to this day. Referring to her olive-skinned complexion, Robert called his wife “his little Portuguese”. It is from this nickname that the title “Sonnets from the Portuguese” is derived. The untitled and numbered sonnets were originally written as private verses of love during the early years of their marriage and Elizabeth never intended to publish them until encouraged to do so by her husband. The result is a collection of some of the loveliest and most poignant words written on romance and marriage in all of English poetry. Perhaps the most famous of her verses is the beautiful “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways”, which is a timeless statement of love and devotion. All together in this representative selection are included a total of eighty-three works which exhibit the breadth of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poetic virtuosity.