'My Last Duchess' is a poem, frequently anthologised as an example of the dramatic monologue. It first appeared in 1842 in Browning's Dramatic Lyrics. The poem is written in 28 rhymed couplets of iambic pentameter. The poem is set during the late Italian Renaissance. The speaker (presumably the Duke of Ferrara) is giving the emissary of the family of his prospective new wife (presumably a third or fourth since Browning could have easily written 'second' but did not do so) a tour of the artworks in his home. He draws a curtain to reveal a painting of a woman, explaining that it is a portrait of his late wife; he invites his guest to sit and look at the painting. Robert Browning (1812 - 1889) was an English poet and playwright whose mastery of dramatic verse, and in particular the dramatic monologue, made him one of the foremost Victorian poets. His poems are known for their irony, characterization, dark humor, social commentary, historical settings, and challenging vocabulary and syntax. The speakers in his poems are often musicians or painters whose work functions as a metaphor for poetry.

Lyric traces the history of the term from its classical origins through the early modern, Romantic and Victorian periods and up to the twentieth century and demonstrates the influence of various definitions of lyric on poetic practice, literature, music and other popular cultural forms.

In 'A Handbook to the Works of Browning' by Mrs. Orr Sutherland, readers are taken on a comprehensive journey through the literary works of renowned poet Robert Browning. The book serves as a detailed guide, highlighting key themes, motifs, and styles present in Browning's poetry. Mrs. Orr's scholarly analysis provides readers with a deeper understanding of Browning's writing, making this handbook essential for students and enthusiasts alike. The thorough exploration of Browning's works in this handbook offers a valuable resource for those looking to delve into the complexities of Victorian poetry. Mrs. Orr Sutherland, a respected literary critic, brings her expertise to the study of Browning's works in 'A Handbook to the Works of Browning'. Her passion for literature and keen insights into Browning's poetry shine through in this meticulously researched handbook. Mrs. Orr's dedication to exploring the nuances of Browning's writing is evident in every page, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in Victorian literature. I highly recommend 'A Handbook to the Works of Browning' to readers who wish to deepen their appreciation of Robert Browning's poetry. This insightful handbook offers valuable interpretations and analysis that will enhance the reading experience of Browning's works and provide a solid foundation for further literary exploration.

Browning's lyrics are favourite choices for anthologies but are rarely examined closely. This is the first full-length study of the lyrics, and includes detailed analyses of such well-known poems as Love Among the Ruins, Two in the Campagna, A Serenade at the Villa, A Toccata of Galuppi's, By the Fireside, and James Lee's Wife. Eleanor Cook explores Browning's use of repeated images and themes in the lyrics, examines these patterns in other poems and in his letters, and analyses their growth and change in all his work. She demonstrates how the lyrics may be linked with Browning's other work and shows something of his essential artistic unity. His imaginary is found to be more consistent and complex than is usually assumed. Students of Browning will find this work stimulating and instructive, while lovers of Browning will read it with pure pleasure. The reader will return to many of the poems with a rciher sense of their continuing vitality. In an earlier form this study was awarded the first A.S.P. Woodhouse Prize by the University of Toronto.

The Poems of Browning is the first collected edition to be based on the earliest printed texts, and to present these texts in order of their composition.Together, volumes I and II provide an authoritative and accessible tribute to this great poet. Volume I, 1826-1840 traces Browning's career up to the writing of Sordello. It includes his only surviving juvenilia: The Dance of Death and The First-Borm of Egypt; Pauline, his first anonymous publication, and Paracelsus, the poem which made his literary reputation.

The Poems of Browning is the first collected edition to be based on the earliest printed texts, and to present these texts in order of their composition.Together, volumes I and II provide an authoritative and accessible tribute to this great poet. Volume II, 1841-1846 includes Pippa Passes and many of the poems for which Browning is best known and loved: My Last Duchess, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, Home-Thoughts from Abroad, and The Lost Reader.