Robert Bridges, who was English Poet Laureate between 1913 and 1930, published three versions of his sonnet sequence, The Growth of Love:
- 1876 – 24 sonnets
- 1889 – 79 sonnets
- 1898 – 69 sonnets
This recording is of the 1889 edition.
The poems are essentially meditations on the elusive subject of love, and display the poet’s reverence for his great poetic forebears, particularly Milton and Shakespeare.
The versification, the skill of which is often obscured by its euphony, is reflective of the poet’s nature, both bashful and fiery, quietly adventurous while remaining greatly respectful of tradition.
