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 literature, Victorian poets. He was noted for irony, characterization, dark humour, social commentar ...

. 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 at

Cornell University Cornell University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university based in Ithaca, New York, United States. The university was co-founded by American philanthropist Ezra Cornell and historian and educator Andrew Dickson W ...

. 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 pion ...

and Emily Hickey. Meeting monthly at

University College London University College London (Trade name, branded as UCL) is a Public university, public research university in London, England. It is a Member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the Federal university, federal Uni ...

, 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 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 NettleshipElizabeth 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.

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 1877 establishments in New York (state) {{US-culture-org-stub