Born in 1906, Elizabeth Barret Browning became one of the 19th century's most prolific poets in spite of chronic ill health from adolescence. In addition to her poetic output, she dedicated herself a great deal to abolitionist and anti-child labour causes. Considered a strong contender for Poet laureate upon the death of William Wordsworth, she was a key influence on poets such as Emily Dickinson and Edgar Allan Poe.

Browning is best known for works such as 'Aurora Leigh' and 'How Do I Love Thee' from Sonnets from the Portugese.