The Life of Charlotte Brontë (1857)

A fascinating read, especially considering it was written by someone who was Charlotte's friend. I had no idea that Charlotte Bronte's life was so difficult and tragic. Reading about her life gave me a new perspective on her works (which I love and enjoy), as well as on those of Emily and Anne Bronte. ( )

This is considered to be a very sympathetic and romantic biography--virtually a scrapbook of Charlotte's life. If you are looking for literary criticism and strict adherence to the known facts, then this is not the book for you.

First published not long after Bronte's death - Gaskill was a contemporary and a friend - the first edition suffered controversy, as many of the people referenced were still alive, and some objected to their inclusion. This edition is the 1st edition, with plenty of detail in the appendix to detail the differences with the changed 3rd edition.

Volume 1 details Bronte's younger years; with much contextual narrative as to both the Yorkshire people's personality type and that of the immediate family; the death of some of her siblings, and her mother at an early age; the solitude the family seemed to prefer and the ill health they all seemed to suffer from. The education is also covered - Charlotte's early schools giving inspiration for Lowood in Jane Eyre for instance. Time is also spent in Brussels learning French and German and provides yet more inspiration for those Bronte girls who were there (e.g. for "The Professor" and "Vilette".) [I am disappointed that this edition does not provide translation of those passages in French for those of us whose French is weak!]

Volume 2 was much more interesting for me. This is the time that Jane Eyre (along with Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey) is published. Less input now from Gaskell, with much of the Volume II provided by letters written by Bronte herself, and shows to some extent how she deals with the fame of having written such a book as Jane Eyre, along with dealing with all the gossip about whether the Bell family are male or female. At the same time she has to deal with her three remaining siblings dying in relatively quick succession ( ( )

As with all family friends there is some degree of bias in a story that they will tell pending on who they preferred in the family. I have read a good number of biographies on the Bronte sisters and Gaskell's does portray a poor representation of the father of the Bronte Sisters and this is based on personal dislike as opposed to fact.

But on the flip side of this you get a context and a tone that you do not from other Bronte biographers, in that Gaskell personally knew Charlotte, knew her sisters and had experience of her life at the Parsonage, and for that reason it is essential reading for those wanting an insight into the life at the Parsonage. As those who visit the Parsonage on literary pilgrimages know there is very much a lack of detail in the museum itself and even fewer helpful guides. So prior to visiting the Parsonage this is an ideal companion. ( )

A book that almost by itself created the myth of the Bronte's (so is said). Very fascinating and interesting historical biography. ( )