Browning societies were groups who met to discuss the works of

Robert Browning Robert Browning (7 May 1812 – 12 December 1889) was an English poet and playwright whose dramatic monologues put him high among the Victorian poets. He was noted for irony, characterization, dark humour, social commentary, historical sett ...

. Emerging from various reading groups, the societies indicated the poet's fame, and unusually were forming in his lifetime.Murray, H. (2002) ''Come, bright improvement!: the literary societies of nineteenth-century Ontario'
p.142.
University of Toronto Press. . Retrieved October 2011. Browning was not consulted on their foundation and the idea did not meet with his immediate approval.P. Drew, 1970, ''The poetry of Browning: a critical introduction'
P.410.
Methuen & Co. Retrieved October 2011.

History

The earliest Browning Society, and longest continuing, was constituted in 1877 by

Hiram Corson Hiram Corson (November 6, 1828 – June 15, 1911) was an American professor of literature. Life Corson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He held a position in the library of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. (1849-1856), was a l ...

Cornell University Cornell University is a private statutory land-grant research university based in Ithaca, New York. It is a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, Cornell was founded with the intention to tea ...

. The Boston Browning Society followed in 1885, which would become the largest and most influential. By 1900 there were hundreds of such groups across the United States, Canada and the British Isles.Kennedy, S.R. & Hair, D.S. (2007) ''The dramatic imagination of Robert Browning: a literary life'
p.365-375.
University of Missouri Press. . Retrieved October 2011. The most notable Browning Society was established in London in 1881 by

Frederick James Furnivall Frederick James Furnivall (4 February 1825 – 2 July 1910) was an English philologist, best known as one of the co-creators of the '' New English Dictionary''. He founded a number of learned societies on early English literature and made pio ...

and Emily Hickey. Meeting monthly at

University College London , mottoeng = Let all come who by merit deserve the most reward , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £143 million (2020) , budget = ...

, it extended Browning's readership by publishing study aids for his works, along with cheaper editions and encouragement for amateur productions of his plays. Although the relationship with the society was often fraught, Browning recognised its role in his success.

Alexandra Orr Alexandra Orr or Alexandra Leighton; Alexander Sutherland Orr; Mrs Sutherland Orr (23 November 1828 – 23 August 1903) was an English biographer of Robert Browning. She was a model for her brother Frederic Leighton in at least two paintings. Li ...

who would become Robert Browning's biographer met Browning twice a week and she joined and donated money to the society. Encouraged by the society she created a ''Handbook to the Works of Robert Browning'' assisted by advice from the animal artist

John Trivett Nettleship John Trivett Nettleship (11 February 1841 – 31 August 1902) was an English artist, known as a painter of animals and in particular lions. He was also an author and book illustrator. Life He was born in Kettering, Northamptonshire on 11 Februa ...

Elizabeth Lee, "Orr , Alexandra (1828–1903)", rev. Katharine Chubbuck, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 200
accessed 30 April 2017
/ref> who had written some of the earliest work about Browning. Also prominent throughout its existence was the physician and author

Edward Berdoe Edward Collis Berdoe (7 March 1836 – 2 March 1916) was an English physician, anti-vivisectionist and writer. He studied and wrote on the works of Robert Browning. He also campaigned against medical experiments on human patients and animals. M ...

In fiction

*Arthur Conan Doyle (2004) ''A Duet with an Occasional Chorus'' Kessinger Publishing. . Chapter XVI is set around the politics in a Browning Society.

References

Robert Browning Literary societies {{org-stub