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The secret wedding of poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning on September 12th, 1846, was witnessed by just two people. Elizabeth was so nervous about the ceremony, held at Marylebone Parish Church, that she needed smelling salts to calm her.\xa0\nBarrett was already an acclaimed poet, while Browning was relatively unknown at the time. But their correspondence, comprising almost 600 letters exchanged over less than two years, is considered one of literature\u2019s great romances.\xa0\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly explain how the Brownings\u2019 marriage inspired their greatest works; probe into Browning\u2019s pet name for Barrett, \u2018the Portuguese'; and consider whether, contrary to all appearances, Browning may have had sinister intentions for his new wife\u2026\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018Elizabeth Barrett Browning: Life, Poetry, Relationship & \u2018How Do I Love Thee?\u2019\u2019 (HistoryExtra, 2021): https://www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/elizabeth-barrett-browning-who-life-love-poetry-relationship-robert/\n\u2022 \u2018What we can learn from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's years in lockdown\u2019 (The Guardian, 2021): https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/feb/15/what-we-can-learn-from-elizabeth-barrett-brownings-years-in-lockdown\n\u2022\u2019The life and work of Elizabeth Barrett Browning\u2019 (The British Academy, 2020): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkSWGqMDBEY\n#Literature #Victorian #Romantic #Wedding #UK\nLove the show? Join\xa0\U0001f334CLUB RETROSPECTORS\xa0\U0001f334 to DITCH THE ADS and get an additional full-length episode every SUNDAY!\nPlus, get weekly bonus bits, unlock over 70 bits of extra content and support our independent podcast.\nJoin now via\xa0Apple Podcasts\xa0or\xa0Patreon.\xa0Thanks!\n\xa0\nWe'll be back tomorrow! podfollow.com/Retrospectors\n\xa0\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Sophie King.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2023.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices