Elizabeth Barrett Browning Paved the Way for Taylor Swift

I inhale, prepping my delivery like it’s a TED talk. 

“Okay, so. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was basically Taylor Swift in the 1850s. She churned out hits. Love poems, political screeds, odes to her dog. Every single woman in England thought she spoke directly to her. Because she wrote about heartbreak and disappointment and being misunderstood by men and society, yet she still managed to make them believe in healing, marriage, and all those happily-ever-after dreams.”

Theo has his cake fork poised midair, like he’s really listening. “So, she was a celebrity?”

“Yes! But better. She was a sensation in an era when women couldn’t own property or have a career. And her wedding was staged like a bank heist, because her dad was an absolute psycho about marriage. But Elizabeth ran off with Robert anyway. Because E.B.B, who was chronically ill and lived in pain, believed in love more than she believed in rules.” I stop, suddenly self-conscious that he might be bored…

That is a small excerpt from my soon-to-be released novella, Let Me Count the Ways.

It’s a contemporary love story between a romance bookstore owner and a small-town sheriff. But it’s also about poetry—especially poetry by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

I’ve posted a lot about Taylor Swift’s work, comparing her to the Brontes. But while researching Elizabeth Barrett Browning, I realized just how many similarities she and Taylor Swift share, like their writing genius, emotional honesty, and ability to connect deeply with an audience. Both women challenged societal expectations, using their art to express raw emotion, and cultivated a personal connection with their followers that transcended their time and genre.

In the 1800s, Elizabeth Barrett Browning tackled themes of inequality, oppression, and the human condition with a voice that was both tender and powerful.

Like Taylor Swift, Browning’s poetry was rooted in her personal experiences but resonated widely, speaking to universal truths about love, longing, and societal constraints. Her famous sonnet sequence, “Sonnets from the Portuguese,” is a testament to her intense, personal exploration of love and vulnerability, qualities that have endeared her to readers across generations.

Nowadays, Taylor Swift’s lyrics often draw from her own life, depicting love, heartbreak, ambition, and empowerment with honesty and flair. Swift has built a reputation for transparency and emotional availability, often sharing her vulnerabilities through her songs and public appearances. She has a gift for turning personal experiences into relatable narratives that forge a sense of intimacy with her fans. This connection is akin to Browning’s poetic voice, which invited readers into her innermost thoughts and feelings, making her work deeply personal yet universally accessible.

Both women also challenged societal expectations and stereotypes.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning defied the limited roles women were expected to play in her time. She was an intellectual who published her work widely and was respected for her literary contributions. Similarly, Taylor Swift has navigated and challenged the music industry’s often restrictive standards for women. Swift’s advocacy for artists’ rights and her efforts to maintain control over her own music and image mirror Browning’s defiance of societal norms and her pursuit of artistic independence.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poetry inspired countless readers and writers, elevating the status of female poets in a predominantly male literary landscape. Taylor Swift, in her turn, has had a profound impact on popular culture and the music industry. Like Browning, she has become a symbol of resilience and independence.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was known for her sincere, emotionally charged poetry that laid bare her inner life and struggles.

Her openness about her health, her love for her husband Robert Browning, and her social activism made her more relatable and admired. Taylor Swift’s authenticity is evident in her songwriting and public persona. Her ability to be vulnerable while maintaining control over her narrative has made her one of the most trusted voices for her generation.

Further, their artistry was deeply intertwined with their personal identities. Both women have used their art as a form of self-expression and rebellion, inspiring others to do the same.

If you remain unconvinced, I challenge you to take the quiz below. Good luck! Please comment & let me know how you did!

Let Me Count the Ways will be released on February 3rd, but you can start reading the first Sugar Pine novella today, for FREE!