Robert Browning was one of the greatest of English poets, whose intense and orig
inal imagination enabled him to transform any subject he chose - whether everyda
y or sublime - into startling memorable verse. In his work he brought to life th
e personalities of a diverse range of characters, and introduced a new immediacy
, colloquial energy and psychological complexity to the poetry of his day. This
selection brings together verse ranging from early dramatic monologues such as t
he chilling "My Last Duchess" and the ribald "Fra Lippo Lippi", which show his g
ift for inhabiting the mind of another, to the popular children's poem "The Pied
Piper of Hamelin" and many lesser known works.
