She was a noted poet with a sterling reputation, but confined to her room by a mysterious illness. He was also a poet, six years her junior, whose poetry was less accessible and not as popular. Their mutual regard and respect for each other turned to love over two years of letters and visits. Knowing that her tyrannical father would never approve of their marriage or their plan to move to Pisa, Italy, they hatched a plot to marry in secret and elope the following week. With the scant funds that they had, they traveled overland and by sea through England and France, which was a great trial for the invalid. But they finally had each other and that gave them hope and happiness.
Many people know of the romance between Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, which is at the heart of this novel. But the author also told of how the Barretts made their fortune in Jamaica on the backs of slaves at their sugar plantation, Cinnamon Hill, and that Elizabeth was a firm abolitionist. A subplot involving her brother's possible link to a female slave was based on historical records, which McNeal included in appendices at the end of the novel.
This was a beautiful retelling of the story of two extraordinary people who found their soulmates and would not compromise in living their lives together. I loved it.
No comments:
Post a Comment