Robert Browning was a 19th century English poet and playwright. His mastery of the dramatic dialogue made him a leading author of the Victorian age. In 1846 he secretly married Elizabeth Barrett. Elizabeth Barrett Browning is considered one of the great English poets. The setting for A Blot in the 'Scutcheon is 18th century England. The tragic play is full of romance, misconceptions, and characters bringing down on themselves their own misfortunes. The poetry of Browning enhances the dialogue in this play.