The Browning Cyclopædia: A Guide to the Study of the Works of Robert Browning

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

36734

Title

The Browning Cyclopædia: A Guide to the Study of the Works of Robert Browning

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Edward Berdoe's monumental guide offers an exhaustive analysis of Robert Browning's works, clarifying obscure allusions, historical contexts, and difficult passages. Praised as a conscientious labor of love by the press, this cyclopædia serves as an indispensable companion for students seeking to understand the depth and complexity of Browning's poetry without relying on other handbooks.

Summary up to 500 words

Edward Berdoe's *The Browning Cyclopædia* stands as a definitive and monumental guide for studying the works of Robert Browning, addressing the poet's inherent obscurity through exhaustive research. Leveraging his scientific background and dedication to the Browning Society, Berdoe systematically elucidates every difficult word, allusion, and phase of thought within Browning's vast literature. The work covers major poems such as *The Ring and the Book*, *Sordello*, and *Rabbi Ben Ezra*, offering copious notes on Italian history, classical references, and specific textual difficulties, including the age of Lazarus in the *Epistle of Karshish*. Berdoe argues that Browning's difficulty stems not from an intent to puzzle readers, but from a desire to provoke deep thought. His aim is to make these complex ideas accessible to the general public without shirking difficult verses or honest obscurities. The text includes extensive press opinions highlighting its erudition and comprehensive nature; critics from *The Times* to *Vanity Fair* praised it as conscientious, painstaking, and invaluable, noting that it renders other handbooks unnecessary. By honestly tackling every difficulty, Berdoe provides a faithful exposition that brings Browning nearer to modern readers. The book serves as a business-like introduction, suppressing the author's personal opinions to focus on clear explanation. It is dedicated to Dr. F. J. Furnivall and Miss E. H. Hickey, the founders of the Browning Society, and reflects immense industry and devotion. Ultimately, this cyclopædia ensures that both present and future students can fully appreciate the poet's moral and mental attitudes, making Robert Browning clearer, nearer, and dearer to every serious reader.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Biography