The Ring and the Book (Broadview literary texts)

Centered around the scene of a murder trial, the story of The Ring and the Book is narrated in the form of multi-character monologues. The ambitious 21,000 line poem is sure to captivate today's reader just as much as its unconventional form surprised those who first rummaged through its pages when it was first published. Excerpt: A Lover of poetry who desired to make acquaintance with Browning's work once inquired of him which poem he should read first, and straightway came the reply - 'The Ring and Book, of course.' Browning's advice was prompted less by a comprehension of what would win and what might throw off a comprehension of what would win and what would win and what might throw off a friendly reader than by the sense that the whole of his own mind was more fully represented in this than in any other of his writings. Certainly he had shown his thews in the Ring and the Book; it is his largest and most sustained achievement. But a volume comprasing more than twenty thousand lines of verse - equal in number to those of Paradise Lost twice told - can hardly be regarded as an introduction to his work; it is perhaps the chief, the ultimate thing to master. Browning's friend, John Forster, when in early days he made the first selection from the poetical works, knew better than did the poet himself how to awaken the faith and hope and courage which are needed before we venture on on a consideration enterprise. Yet it remains true that the whole mass of the poet's mind thrusts itself forward with more domineering force in his story of the Roman murder-case than in such lyric pieces and dramatic fragments as are best fitted to gain from the outset believers in the genius of Robert Browning.