I’m Telling You Tuesday

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

One of my favorite true love stories is that of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning. You may best know their story if I give you these lines:

“Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be…”

(from the poem “Rabbi Ben Ezra” by Robert Browning)

Yes, that’s the kind of love I’m talking about!!

As a lover of poetry (and all things romantic!), I’m thrilled with the partnership of Wellesley College and Baylor University to digitize and release to the general public a website containing the entirety of the courtship letters between Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning.

A correspondence of almost-daily letters started in January 1845 and continued until a week after their secret marriage in September 1846, when they eloped to Italy.  Oh, yes, Italy!  See, the couple was in England, but the pollution and a history of ill-health had combined to limit Elizabeth’s life to one as a semi-invalid.  Then one day, she allowed another poet, also a fan!, also a man!, to pay a visit to her in her sick-room.

The rest, well, it’s history!  And now, fans like us can read their letters and trace their relationship and courtship.  And sigh in appreciation and admiration of their beautiful phrasing, their elegant handwriting and their obvious, growing affection for each other.

Here, take a peek at the first letter Robert Browning wrote to Elizabeth Barrett:

And here’s the back:

Here’s the front of the first letter Elizabeth Barrett wrote to Robert Browning:

And the back:

How absolutely cool is that?!?!

I’m telling you….I think it’s awesome sauce!!

Have you written a love letter today… or ever????