Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great - Volume 05

A vivid portrait unfolds of a young man raised in modest comfort, whose early schooling in a quiet Essex village offered little fanfare but laid the groundwork for a restless curiosity. At Oxford he meets the slender, theological dreamer Edward Burne‑Jones, and their unlikely friendship sparks a shared devotion to poetry, especially the daring verses of Mrs. Browning. Through heated debates and spirited readings, he discovers a fierce inclination to champion the misunderstood, a trait that will shape his later writings.

The narrative follows his budding literary ambitions, from the first daring defense of a scandal‑tainted poet to the creation of his own poetic manifesto while still in his twenties. Influences from Ruskin and the broader artistic currents of the era swirl around him, illuminating the paradox of a practical upbringing colliding with a soaring imagination. Listeners will be drawn into the formative moments that forged a future visionary, all told with a warm, engaging tone.