University of Virginia Library

“Wordsworth's poetry stands distinct in the world. That which to other men
is an occasional pleasure, or possibly delight, and to other poets an occasional
transport, the seeing this visible Universe, is to him, a Life—one Individual
Human Life—namely, his Own, travelling the whole journey from the cradle to
the grave. And that Life—for what else could he do with it?—he has verified—
sung. And there is no other such song.”

“The noblest poem in the English language, since Milton's Paradise Lost.”

“The influence of the genius of Wordsworth, in correcting the poetic taste of
the age by weaning it from the pompous inanities that marked the close of the
last century, and enlisting the sympathies, feelings, and taste in favor of nature,
and that kindly philanthropy which does honor to human nature, has been immense.
While the influence of nature upon man was his theme, he was frequently
as just as profound.

“The `Excursion,' by far the noblest production of the author, was first printed
in 1814, and contains passages of sentiment, description, and pure eloquence, not
excelled by any living poet. The principal character is a poor Scottish pedlar,
who traverses the mountains in company with the poet, and is made to discourse
with profound philosophy of the beauty and grandeur of nature. The edition
of Messrs. Francis & Co., is a very beautiful one.”

“A mine of thought, feeling, and poesy, in a small space. The world has
learned to appreciate the wonderful genius of Coleridge: and it is no more
necessary now to defend and to praise his effusions, than those of Milton or
Shakspeare.”

“Mrs. Browning is, in our judgment, the first poet of her sex—the Milton
among women.”

“The richest and most powerful poetry which has come to us in these recent
years from the female mind.”

“If this lady is not a great poet, who is?”

“Mrs. Browning is entitled to dispute with Tennyson the honor of being the
greatest living poet of England. Certainly, no woman of that country has yet
equalled her in poetry. Her best poems, both in spirit and execution, are in
the highest rank of art.”

“That Miss Barrett has done more, in poetry, than any woman, living or dead,
will scarcely be questioned; that she has surpassed all her poetical cotemporaries
of either sex (with a single exception) is our deliberate opinion—not idly
entertained, we think, nor founded on any visionary basis. Her poetic inspiration
is the highest—we can conceive nothing more august.”

“Mrs. Browning's poems are marked by strength of passion, by intensity of
emotion, and by high religious aims, sustained and carried out by an extraordinary
vigor of imagination and felicity of expression. * * * The hopefulness
of the poetry—the religious hopefulness which rises with prophetic power over
tombs and deserts—is what commends it to us most, brought out as it is in all
the parts with an imagination so strong, and in tones so beautiful. It is pleasant
to find a writer of such unquestioned ability as Mrs. Browning, and with a love
of nature so pure and hearty, turning away from the pantheistic tendencies of
the age, and from the exclusive love and worship of nature, to recognize in simplicity
of soul the graces and sanctities of a Christian faith, and to dwell amid
the beloved and hallowed scenes which a Christian heart and imagination can
create around us.”

“Elizabeth Barrett Browning is undoubtedly the most spiritual and vigorous
female writer of poetry of the age. She is at once a thorough scholar and a
true woman, and writes from genuine sentiment and high aspiration. Those
who have not learned to appreciate her lofty and touching verses, have a great
pleasure in store. To such as know her, we need not commend any thing from
her pen. We cannot, however, forbear saying that a peculiar interest invests
the present volume. After Miss Barrett married Robert Browning—a man of
peculiar and exquisite genius—they went to Italy. From her windows in Florence
she had glimpses of the late struggle for liberty, and these induced her to
think and feel on the subject; the result is before us. In addition, we have all
her poems not included in the other two volumes, and a series of sonnets—the
best in the English language, since Wordsworth's last, and full of intellect,
sensibility, and grace.”

“This is the poetical offering of the year. The author, next to Tennyson, claims
a hearing on the ground of that inherent right possessed by all men and women
of genius. Miss Barrett has learning, (her Æschylus is a very different gentleman
from the old prosing of other translators,) thought, profound feeling, artistic
skill. The subject of the last poem, Casa Guidi Windows, is Italy and the recent
struggles for liberty, and in it Mrs. Browning, in her peculiar manner of fervid
inspiration and artistic carelessness, pours out her soul on the theme which of
all within the scope of human thought is the most exciting to a true poet.”

“The most complete work of the kind in English literature.”

“A more desirable work for the scholar or man of taste, has scarcely ever been
issued in the United States.”

“The Dream is a very beautiful poem, the frame-work of which is simply a
lovely mother watching over a lovely daughter asleep; which daughter dreams, and
when awaked tells her dream; which dream depicts the bliss of a first love and
an early union, and is followed by the mother's admonitory comment, importing
the many accidents to which wedded happiness is liable, and exhorting to moderation
of hope, and preparation for severe duties. It is in this latter portion of the
poem that the passion and the interest assume a personal hue; and passages occur
which sound like javelins hurled by an Amazon.”

“There can be no question that the performance (The Child of the Islands)
bears throughout the stamp of extraordinary ability—the sense of easy power
very rarely deserts us. But we pause on the bursts of genius: and they are many.
* * * The exquisite beauty of the verses is worthy of the noble womanly
feelings expressed in them. * * * We wish we had room for a score more
of these masterly sketches—but we hope we have given enough to show that we
have not observed with indifference this manifestation of developed skill—this
fairest wreath as yet won in the service of the graver Muses for the name of
Sheridan.”

“This is poetry, true poetry, and of the sort we unfeignedly approve—the genuine
product of a cultivated mind, a rich fancy, and a warm, well regulated heart.”

“This lady is the Byron of our modern poetesses. She has very much of that
intense personal passion by which Byron's poetry is distinguished from the larger
grasp and deeper communion of Wordsworth. She has also Byron's beautiful
Intervals of tenderness, his strong practical thought, and his forcible expression.
It is not an artificial imitation, but a natural parallel.”