Anne wrote Agnes Gray and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall,
Jane Eyre’s her most famous novel, but Charlotte wrote four,
Patrick Branwell, their brother, who died of a delirium,
Was addicted to alcohol and laudanum,
And Emily’s Wuthering Heights is, perhaps, the best known of all.
One of the most astonishing facts about these four rightly famous writers is that they were all dead before the age of 40. The two eldest in the family, Maria and Elizabeth died at 11 and 10 respectively. Charlotte (1816-1855) died at 37. Patrick Branwell, known as Branwell, (1817-1848) died at 31 from tuberculosis. Emily Jane (1818-1848) died at 30 and Anne 1820-1849) at 29.
Love the Bronte’s among my favourite books in the world. The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Masterpieces. Makes you so proud of our British literary history. X
It does indeed love.
There is a certain sadness about this, that these brilliant women died so young. The joy about this is the impression they’ve left such joy and debate about their books, Jane Eyre and Wutering Heights. Thanks Caro. Kharis Macey
Thanks Kharis. Yes, tragic that they all died so young but wonderful that in their short lives they gave the world such marvellous novels!
Yes, I thought about that, what an impact their words and minds have on this world, more so in the future than in their day. Thanks for sharing the info about them. Blessing. Kharis Macey
Ah, the bane of my elementary school reading requirements. The Bronte Sisters…
Yet, those books have managed to inspire a plethora of movies….
They were astonishing writers given their youth and inexperience
Caro,
I’ve always felt a huge sense of loss that these author sisters died so young. Jane Eyre, in particular, is one of my very favorite books!
Mine too, Amy!
Perhaps the one I know the best is Wuthering Heights. One has to wonder what more would have been written has these four enjoyed a longer life
I agree! So sad!
Sad losses. Is that Penzance where they were born?
No, Yorkshire. Haworth
I fell in love with Jane Eyre in elementary school and read Wuthering Heights when I was older. I liked the little bit of creepy in them. When I read Jane Eyre as an adult, I was shocked at the school scenes the most. This family had so much sorrow in their short lives. I can’t imagine.
It is sad, isn’t if?
Oh, I just loved Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights! This post makes me want to read Jane Eyre again. I didn’t know they all died so young – very sad.
It is – imagine the other books they’d have written! P
I have started reading English literature over the last few years, with my daughter. It is great! A bit creepy sometimes, but great. I am still struggling with ghost stories though…The fact that the Bronte sisters wrote so much over such a short period of time is simply amazing.
They were extraordinarily gifted
Lovely tribute. This is so sad. I just read Jane Eyre this past Dec. They may written a lot more had they lived!!