FOREVER IN JOY

This will be useful as a companion to Poems of Robert Browing 1964, edited by Miss Sprague, who is a professor of Victorian literature. The greater part of the book is devoted to historical background and analytical discussions of Browning's poetry, and may be useful as such as an English Lit class supplement. In the outline of the poet's life, R.B.'s courtship of E.B.B. is quickly summarized without the usual fond dwelling on romantic details; and that they remained devoted is staunchly upheld. This one aspect Of Browning's life has pretty well' overshadowed most of the Juvenile writing about him for otherwise he was not very different from the usual English men of letters of the times. what does make him interesting, is his association with many of the literary and artistic figures of the period. Unfortunately, this biography depends too much on brief mention of names and events without the anecdotal background to make them real. Although quite carefully researched and competently written, ""Forever in Joy"" is sometimes in boredom.