Charlotte who? (Charlotte Bronte in general)

Member Name: eatingpinkzebras

Product:	Charlotte Bronte in general
Date:	11/01/09 (76 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gave us the amazing Jane Eyre

Disadvantages: Died young

If you say the name Charlotte Bronte to most people, they will think of the novel 'Jane Eyre', or perhaps mistakenly, 'Wuthering Heights' which was by her sister Emily. However 'Jane Eyre' was not Charlotte's only work, though it is her most famous one and is a respected part of the British literary canon, and a book that I would recommend you read if you get the chance.

Charlotte Bronte was born on the 21st April 1816 in Yorkshire. She was the third of six children, five girls and a boy, but two of the girls died in childhood from tuberculosis. This left Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell. These four spent much of their childhood and teenage lives writing fantasy stories about various imaginary kingdoms and their inhabitants.

In 1846 the three sisters published a collection of poetry using the pseudonyms Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell. They used these ambiguous names to disguise their genders so that their works would not be looked down upon for their female authors. The collection of poems sold only two copies but this did not hinder the girls from continuing in their writing.

Charlotte's first novel was called 'The Professor', but she could not find anyone willing to publish it. It was however published in 1857 after her death. Charlotte's first published novel was 'Jane Eyre' in 1847, which sold very well and prompted her to reveal her actual identity as a woman. After 'Jane Eyre' she also had two other novels published, 'Shirley' in 1849 and 'Villette' in 1853. Although I have not read either of these books, and they have not had the same success as 'Jane Eyre', I am sure that they are worth looking at if you have an interest in the Brontes.

In 1854 Charlotte married Arthur Bell Nicholls, but after she became pregnant by him her health started to fail and she died in March the next year, at just 38 years old, before she was able to give birth. It is a great shame that she died young and of course had she lived she may have produced many more classic books. However she will always be remembered in English history.

Summary: A great writer