Charlotte Bronte (1816 - 1855), the last of the remaining Bronte brood died 156 years ago today. She was 38 and pregnant at the time. Too young to die. They were all too young. Honestly, when it comes to medicine and its practice, the 19th century appears to have been a veritable Dark Ages of ignorance.
I wonder what Bronte would think of the latest incarnation of her JANE EYRE character? The popularity, really, of all the sisters' work, but especially, JANE EYRE. I wonder if these young women could have ever suspected that their writing, done in the chilly rooms of that dark and gloomy rectory, would still be read, admired and talked about in the year 2011.
Hi Yvette
ReplyDeleteHave you read The Crimes of Charlotte Bronte by James Tully? I picked it up because of its intriguing title but it seemed too far-fetched.
No, I haven't heard of it. I'll have to see if I can find it. Sounds far-fetched to me too. But a great title. :)
ReplyDeleteso sad, Yvette!! i did not kbow that....so sad, her life!
ReplyDeletei love her books. She writes so wonderful!!!!
isn't it strange that people who live and die like that creat amazing things.......that live forever!!!
Martha: Yes, I agree. But her work will live forever. I wonder if there are any great classic writers who led happy-go-lucky lives?
ReplyDeleteThat painting certainly portrays Charlotte as being more attractive than the one I posted recently!
ReplyDeleteI thought this image was a pretty good one. Found it online. Well, who knows. The hair-dos were so awful in those days. :)
ReplyDeleteBronte was intensely ambitious and fairly certain that she was a genius. So she might not have been surprised that, 150 after her death, she would receive all the adulation that she does. Of course, she could never have predicted how the world would change.
ReplyDeleteRobin: I'm not surprised she thought she was a genius. I mean, that's something that a person would know about themselves. Not something you'd go about spouting, but still, inside where it matters, you'd know. It probably made her life harder than it was - living in times when being a woman had few benefits. Ambition. Jeez, how that must have rankled those about her.
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