Aurora Leigh 1856 is an epic poem by English Romantic poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Described by Browning as a novel in verse Aurora Leigh is primarily the story of its titular heroine an intelligent woman and ambitious poet whose talent is matched only by her skill for selfdoubt. Although it is narrated in the first person the poem also concerns itself with the character Marian Erle a woman rescued from a life on the streets by Auroras cousin Romney who loves both women in complex and varying ways. Recognized as one of the most important poems of the nineteenth century Aurora Leigh is notable for its use of the epic formtraditionally masculine and concerned with subjects such as war history and the godsin order to tell a story centered on talented and uniquely independent women. Born in Florence to a Tuscan mother and English father and encouraged from a young age to study the classics and learn Latin and Greek Aurora Leigh develops not only the desire to become a famous poet but the talent and intelligence to achieve her dream. What she has in ambition and skill however she lacks in confidence and after moving to England as a teenager Aurora struggles to make a name for herself in the competitive literary environment of London. While in England she meets her cousin Romney Leigh a dedicated and idealistic social worker who dreams of using his inheritance and family estateLeigh Hallto alleviate the suffering of the lower classes. Aurora Leigh is a dramatic tale of romance involving Marian Erle Lady Waldemara beautiful aristocratand Aurora herself. As each of these women navigates their relationship with Romney and as Romney tries and fails to bring meaningful aid to the poor Aurora finds that her art means nothing if she cannot learn to love herself as much as she loves others. This edition of Elizabeth Barrett Brownings Aurora Leigh is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers. Since our inception in 2020 Mint Editions has kept sustainability