In Childe Roland, the title poem, Robert Browning weaves a rich tapestry of surreal imagery inspired by his experiences in Italy. Drawing from an ancient tower in the Carrara Mountains, a captivating painting in Paris, and a striking horse depicted on a tapestry in his Florentine home, Browning channels the haunting words from Shakespeares King Lear Childe Roland to the dark tower came. This evocative poem invites listeners into a realm reminiscent of the epic The Song of Roland and the legendary quests of Arthurian knights, where the journey into the unknown is fraught with challenges and the pursuit of elusive goals. - Summary by Alan Mapstone