Produced by C. Aldarondo, T. Vergon, R. Prince and the Distributed Proofreaders
[Illustration: ROBERT BROWNING]
ROBERT BROWNING: HOW TO KNOW HIM
By WILLIAM LYON PHELPS, M.A., PH.D. Lampton Professor of English Literature at Yale
WITH PORTRAIT
TO JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY WITH SINCERE AFFECTION AND RESPECT
PREFACE
In this volume I have attempted to give an account of Browning'slife and an estimation of his character: to set forth, withsufficient illustration from his poems, his theory of poetry, hisaim and method: to make clear some of the leading ideas in his work:to show his fondness for paradox: to exhibit the nature and basis ofhis optimism. I have given in complete form over fifty of his poems,each one preceded by my interpretation of its meaning andsignificance.
W. L. P.
[Illistration: Seven Gables, Lake Huron]
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I THE MAN
II BROWNING'S THEORY OF POETRY
III LYRICS
IV DRAMATIC LYRICS
V DRAMATIC MONOLOGUES
VI POEMS OF PARADOX
VII BROWNING'S OPTIMISM
INDEX
LIST OF POEMS
ABT VOGLER
ANDREA DEL SARTO
APPARENT FAILURE
BAD DREAMS
BISHOP ORDERS HIS TOMB, THE
CALIBAN UPON SETEBOS
CAVALIER TUNES
"CHILDE ROLAND TO THE DARK TOWER CAME"
CONFESSIONS
COUNT GISMOND
CRISTINA
EPILOGUE TO ASOLANDO
EPILOGUE TO FEFINE AT THE FAIR
EPISTLE (AN) CONTAINING THE STRANGE MEDICAL EXPERIENCE OF KARSHISH
EVELYN HOPE
EYES CALM BESIDE THEE
FACE, A
GLOVE, THE
GRAMMARIAN'S FUNERAL, A
GUARDIAN-ANGEL, THE
HOME-THOUGHTS, FROM ABROAD
HOME-THOUGHTS, FROM THE SEA
HOW IT STRIKES A CONTEMPORARY
"HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX"