The Swans Nest, Laura McNeal
The Swans Nest, Laura McNeal
List: $31.99 | Sale: $22.40
Club: $15.99

The Swan's Nest
A Novel

Author: Laura McNeal

Narrator: Nicola F. Delgado

Unabridged: 12 hr 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/12/2024


Synopsis

A tender and engrossing historical novel about the unlikely love affair between two great 19th-century poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett.

On a bleak January day in 1845, a poet who had been confined to her room for four years by recurrent illness received a letter from a writer she secretly idolized but had never seen. “I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett,” Robert Browning wrote, “and I love you too.”
 
Elizabeth Barrett was ecstatic. She was famous for her poetry but completely cut off from the kind of international travel that Browning used to fuel his obscure, unsuccessful, innovative poems, one of which was written from a murderer’s point of view. They began an affectionate correspondence, but Elizabeth kept delaying a visit. What would happen when he saw her in person? What was Robert really like? Could she persuade her father and brothers that he was honorable, even though she had never met his family? And what would happen if she gave in to Robert’s wild proposal that they go to Italy and see if the sun could cure her?
 
McNeal brilliantly tells the story of how Robert and Elizabeth fell in love with each other’s words and shocked her conservative, close-knit family and the literary world. Sensitively and lyrically written, as rich as the lovers' own poetry, The Swan's Nest will sweep up readers in the triumphant story of two people forced to choose between a safe, stable life and the love they felt for each other.

Author Bio

Laura Rhoton McNeal holds an MA in fiction writing from Syracuse University and is the author, with her husband, Tom, of four critically acclaimed young adult novels, including Crooked (winner of the California Book Award in Juvenile Literature) and Zipped (winner of the Pen Center USA Literary Award in Children’s and Young Adult Literature). Laura’s solo debut novel, Dark Water, was a finalist for the National Book Award. She lives with her family in Coronado, California.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Annette on March 04, 2024

The Swan’s Nest brings a fascinating story of two 19th century poets, Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett. In January 1845, Elizabeth has been confined to her room for the past four years by recurrent illness when she receives a letter from another poet she has secretly admired. Robert not only lov......more

Goodreads review by Tom on February 26, 2024

Full disclosure: the reason I have read this book 6 or 7 times is because I'm married to the author. Still, I can honestly say that only a book as beautiful as this one could sweep me away again and again, and that's what this book did, each and every time through. The story itself is compelling--a......more

Goodreads review by Moonkiszt on June 21, 2024

Although I've heard about these two love birds my whole life, I really never read their story. Two famous poets, writers, a man, a woman in a time those didn't mix professionally, and here they are. Delighted by the surprise of their interest in each other's work, in each other's passions, and in ea......more

Goodreads review by Sue on March 16, 2025

One of my favorite reading genres is historical fiction and Laura McNeal has certainly added a new personal favorite to my list with The Swan’s Nest. This story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, their families, the society in which they lived, and their budding then growing relationship is p......more

Goodreads review by Jennifer on March 20, 2024

What a beautiful book! This is not my typical type of read but something about it called to me and I am very happy to have picked it up. This story is about Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning, two poets from very different families and circumstances who fall in love despite it being forbidden by......more