Sonnets from the Portuguese
A sequence of forty-four sonnets written during the secret courtship between Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning in 1845 and 1846, before their elopement to Italy. She was nearly forty, an invalid under her father's roof, and the poems move from disbelief that love should come to her at all toward acceptance and a kind of defiance. Published in 1850, they were presented as translations to disguise their intimacy; the title echoes Browning's nickname for her. The forty-third sonnet, which begins "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways," is the most famous love poem in English, but the sequence as a whole is more hesitant, argumentative and physical than that single poem suggests. Read it online in your browser on Vinteuil; the first poems are free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Sonnets from the Portuguese
Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Sonnets from the Portuguese online?
Yes. Sonnets from the Portuguese opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Sonnets from the Portuguese free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Sonnets from the Portuguese is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Sonnets from the Portuguese in the public domain?
Yes. Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Sonnets from the Portuguese?
About 21 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Sonnets from the Portuguese?
Sonnets from the Portuguese by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is filed under "Poetry" in the Vinteuil library.
