Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855)
Author of Jane Eyre
About the Author
Charlotte Bronte, the third of six children, was born April 21, 1816, to the Reverend Patrick Bronte and Maria Branwell Bronte in Yorkshire, England. Along with her sisters, Emily and Anne, she produced some of the most impressive writings of the 19th century. The Brontes lived in a time when women show more used pseudonyms to conceal their female identity, hence Bronte's pseudonym, Currer Bell. Charlotte Bronte was only five when her mother died of cancer. In 1824, she and three of her sisters attended the Clergy Daughter's School in Cowan Bridge. The inspiration for the Lowood School in the classic Jane Eyre was formed by Bronte's experiences at the Clergy Daughter's School. Her two older sisters died of consumption because of the malnutrition and harsh treatment they suffered at the school. Charlotte and Emily Bronte returned home after the tragedy. The Bronte sisters fueled each other's creativity throughout their lives. As young children, they wrote long stories together about a complex imaginary kingdom they created from a set of wooden soldiers. In 1846, Charlotte Bronte, with her sisters Emily and Anne published a thin volume titled Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. In the same year, Charlotte Bronte attempted to publish her novel, The Professor, but was rejected. One year later, she published Jane Eyre, which was instantly well received. Charlotte Bronte's life was touched by tragedy many times. Despite several proposals of marriage, she did not accept an offer until 1854 when she married the Reverend A. B. Nicholls. One year later, at the age of 39, she died of pneumonia while she was pregnant. Her previously rejected novel, The Professor, was published posthumously in 1857. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Disambiguation Notice:
Do not combine Charlotte with either or both of her sisters. Also, do not combine this page with that of "Bronte". Thank you.
Image credit: Portrait by George Richmond
Series
Works by Charlotte Brontë
The Complete Novels: Agnes Grey / Jane Eyre / The Professor / Shirley / The Tenant of Wildfell Hall / Villette /… (2012) 329 copies
Jane Eyre 25 copies
Jane Eyre {unidentified movies} 22 copies
Five Novelettes: Passing Events, Julia, Mina Laury, Captain Henry Hastings, Caroline Vernon (1971) 19 copies
Jane Eyre [adapted - Saddleback Illustrated Classics] (1999) — Original Author; Original Author — 17 copies
Wuthering Heights Jane Eyre ~ Emily Charlotte Bronte Eichenberg Illustrated 1943 (1777) — Author — 14 copies
The letters of Charlotte Brontë : with a selection of letters by family and friends (1995) 12 copies
Wuthering Heights / Agnes Grey / The Tenant of Wildfell Hall / The Professor (1980) — Author — 12 copies
The Letters of Charlotte Brontë: Volume II: 1848-1851: With a Selection of Letters by Family and Friends: 1848-1851… (2000) 11 copies
The Unfinished Novels: Ashworth / The Moores / The Story of Willie Ellin / Emma (fragment) (1993) 11 copies
Jane Eyre 10 copies
The Brontë Collection: Includes Jane Eyre, The Professor, Shirley, Villette, Wuthering Heights, Agnes Grey, The Tenant… (1905) 9 copies
The Complete Novels of the Brontë Sisters (8 Novels: Jane Eyre, Shirley, Villette, The Professor, Emma, Wuthering… (2013) 7 copies
The Life and works of Charlote Bronte and Her Sisters (Collected Works of Charlotte Bronte 7 volumes) (1872) 7 copies
The Brontë Sisters: The Complete Novels A Biography of the Author (The Greatest Writers of All Time) (2017) 6 copies
Reading & Training : Charlotte Brontë : Jane Eyre {Step 3} [2008] [book + sound recording] (2003) — Writer — 5 copies
Shirley 5 copies
The Professor, Emma, and Poems 5 copies
An Edition of the Early Writings of Charlotte Brontë, Vol. 2: The Rise of Angria, 1833-1835 (1991) 5 copies
The Brontë collection 4 copies
A Leaf from an Unopened Volume; or, The Manuscript of an Unfortunate Author -- An Angrian Story (1986) 4 copies
Reading & Training : Charlotte Brontë : Jane Eyre {step 5} [book + sound recording] (2008) — Writer — 4 copies
Romance Classics: Jane Eyre / Mansfield Park / Lorna Doone / Far from the Madding Crowd / Middlemarch / Agnes Grey (1928) 4 copies
Agnes Grey; The Professor; Poems 4 copies
Vilette / Jane Eyre / Shirley / The Tenant of Wildfell Hall / Agnes Grey / Wuthering Heights 4 copies
Jane Eyre (abridged) 4 copies
Jane Eyre, Volume I 4 copies
The Brontës Complete Works 3 copies
Jane Eyre (Bancroft Classics) 3 copies
Villette, Volume II 3 copies
The Complete Works of Charlotte Brontë: all 5 novels Collected Writings and Juvenilia: Jane Eyre Shirley Villette The… (2008) 3 copies
Jane Eyre (adapated, Collins ELT Simplified Readers: Level 4: Intermediate: 1500 Headwords) (1978) 3 copies
Jane Eyre Hardcover | Litjoy Special Edition | Gold-Printed Cover with 6 Illustrated Pages (2021) 3 copies
The world classics the excerpts Series - Jane Eyre (English-Chinese)(Chinese Edition) (2000) 2 copies
OBL 6 Jane Eyre Dig Pk 2 copies
The Works of the Brontë Family 2 copies
Poesie 2 copies
Jane Eyre 2 copies
Jane Eyre [Oxford’s World Classics] 2 copies
Villette 2 copies
The Brontës: Complete Novels of Charlotte, Emily & Anne Brontë - All 8 Books in One Edition: Jane Eyre, Shirley,… (2017) 2 copies
Un pension de domnisoare 2 copies
Jane Eyre (Annotated and Illustrated): Originally Book Title "Jane Eyre: An Autobiography" by Charlotte Bronte alias… (2019) 1 copy
The professor. Poems of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell. Cottage Poems by the Rev. Patrick Bronte 1 copy
The Ultimate Brontë Collection The Complete Works by Charlotte, Anne and Emily Brontë Illustrated (2013) 1 copy
The Brontes 1 copy
Brontë Sisters: The Professor / Angrian Tales and Poems / The Tenant of Wildfell Hall / Agnes Grey / Wuthering Heights… (1963) 1 copy
Sekret 1 copy
The Complete Works of the Brontë Family (Anne, Charlotte, Emily, Branwell and Patrick Brontë) 1 copy
Charlotte Brontë Anthology 1 copy
JANE EYRE Easton Press 1 copy
JANE EYRE Franklin Library 1 copy
A lowoodi árva [regény] 1 copy
The Brontë Family Collection: Complete Works of Brontë Family (Annotated and Illustrated) (Annotated… (2013) 1 copy
The pilgrim's progress 1 copy
Shirley and The Professor 1 copy
Jane Eyre (Fl) 1 copy
Bokito! het complete verhaal 1 copy
Miss Lucy 1 copy
Jane Eyre A Rainbow Classic 1 copy
CRISOL 198 JANE EYRE 1 copy
Jane Ayre 1 copy
JANE EYRE VOL1 1 copy
Jane Eyre I.kötet 1 copy
Jane Eyre Vol. II 1 copy
Jane Eyre Vol. III 1 copy
Bronte Sisters Archive 1 copy
Agnes Grey / The Tenant of Wildfell Hall / Jane Eyre / The Professor / Villette / Wuthering Heights / Poems by Currer,… (1994) 1 copy
Jane Eyre with Connections (Bill Martin Instant Reader) [ JANE EYRE WITH CONNECTIONS (BILL MARTIN INSTANT READER) ] By… (1999) 1 copy
Charlotte Brontë's Juvenilia: Tales of Angria (Mina Laury, Stancliffe's Hotel), The Story of Willie… (2013) 1 copy
Legends of Angria 1 copy
Sirotek lowoodský 1 copy
The Complete Novels of Charlotte Brontë – All 5 Books in One Edition: Jane Eyre, Shirley, Villette, The… (2017) 1 copy
Jane Eyre Illustrated 1 copy
Jane Eyre, II 1 copy
Poems. (FPFE Series) 1 copy
Jane Eyre II 1 copy
Villette / Shirley / 1 copy
Shirley in two volumes: (the works of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte, in 12 volumes, vol. 3-4) 1 copy
Shirley I (French Edition) 1 copy
Bell's Poems 1 copy
Jane Eyre [Abridged] — Author — 1 copy
Moores 1 copy
Te-am dorit intr-o seara 1 copy
Latest Gleanings 1 copy
Saul and Other Poems 1 copy
The Violet 1 copy
Jane Eyre (MANUSCRIT): (Le manuscrit original de Charlotte Brontë (3 volumes dans un coffret) (2016) 1 copy
The Proffessor 1 copy
Reading & Training - Life Skills : Charlotte Brontë : Jane Eyre [book + sound recording] (2018) — Writer — 1 copy
ΤΖΕΗΝ ΕΗΡ (JANE EYRE) 1 copy
Shirley Level 2 1 copy
Tales of Angria - Complete Edition: Mina Laury, Stancliffe's Hotel & Angria and the Angrians (2017) 1 copy
Jane Eyre - ed. Clube 1 copy
Jane Eyre, Volume II 1 copy
Episode 3 1 copy
Jane Eyre 1 copy
Ο καθηγητής 1 copy
Works of the Sisters Bronte, in Six Volumes (Complete) : Jane Eyre; Shirley; Villette; the Professor; Emma; Wuthering… (1920) 1 copy
简·爱 / Jane Eyre 1 copy
Σίρλεϊ 1 copy
York Notes - Jane Eyre 1 copy
Jane Eyre I 1 copy
Four Wishes 1 copy
Die Waise von Lowood 1 copy
JANE EYRE (With Cd) Level 2 1 copy
Jane Eyre 1 copy
6 Volume Set Jane Eyre, Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Wuthering Heights, Agnes Grey, Professor, Poems, Miscellanea, Shirley,… (1949) 1 copy
Jane Eyre 1 copy
The Professor / Tales from Angria / Emma: A Fragment / Selected Poems by Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë (1954) 1 copy
Jane Eyre (MANUSCRIT): (Le manuscrit original de Charlotte Brontë (3 volumes dans un coffret) (2016) (Manuscrits) (2016) 1 copy
Jane Eyre 1 copy
Jane Eyre STUDY GUIDE: York Notes for GCSE (9-1): - everything you need to catch up, study and prepare for 2022 and… (2015) 1 copy
O segredo; e Lily Hart 1 copy
O Grande Amor de Jane Eyre 1 copy
Associated Works
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama (1995) — Contributor, some editions — 915 copies
The Norton Anthology of Literature by Women: The Tradition in English (1985) — Contributor — 843 copies
The Graphic Canon, Vol. 2: From "Kubla Khan" to the Bronte Sisters to The Picture of Dorian Gray (2012) — Contributor — 183 copies
The Lifted Veil: The Book of Fantastic Literature by Women 1800-World War II (1806) — Contributor — 42 copies
Lapham's Quarterly - Lines of Work: Volume IV, Number 2, Spring 2011 (2011) — Contributor — 29 copies
The Romance Collection: Pride and Prejudice / Emma / Jane Eyre / Ivanhoe / Tom Jones / The Scarlet Pimpernel / Lorna… (2002) — Writer — 20 copies
Jane Eyre/ Wuthering Heights/ Little Women/ Adam Bede/ Emma/ Pride and Prejudice (2001) — Contributor — 15 copies
A Serious Occupation: Literary Criticism by Victorian Women Writers (2003) — Contributor — 12 copies
Grolier Classics: Jane Eyre, Maxims and Reflections, Essays of Elia, Rubaiyat (1956) — Contributor — 10 copies
10 Penguin Classics on 45 CDs (The Mayor of Casterbridge, Pride & Prejudice, Great Expectations, Frankenstein, Jane… (2007) — Contributor — 9 copies
90 Masterpieces You Must Read (Vol.1): Novels, Poetry, Plays, Short Stories, Essays, Psychology & Philosophy (2020) — Contributor — 1 copy
The King's Story Book — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Nichols Brontë, Charlotte
- Other names
- Bell, Currer (pseudonym)
Nichols Brontë, Charlotte - Birthdate
- 1816-04-21
- Date of death
- 1855-03-31
- Burial location
- Church of St Michael and All Angels, Haworth, West Yorkshire, England, UK
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- UK
- Country (for map)
- England, UK
- Birthplace
- Thornton, Yorkshire, England, UK
- Place of death
- Haworth, Yorkshire, England, UK
- Cause of death
- probable hyperemesis gravidarum
- Places of residence
- Thornton, Yorkshire, England, UK
Haworth, Yorkshire, England, UK
Lancashire, England, UK
Mirfield, England, UK
Brussels, Belgium - Education
- Cowan Bridge
Roe Head, Mirfield, Yorkshire, England, UK
Pensionat Heger, Brussels, Belgium - Occupations
- writer
novelist
poet
teacher - Relationships
- Brontë, Emily (sister)
Brontë, Anne (sister)
Brontë, Patrick (father)
Brontë, Branwell (brother)
Gaskell, Elizabeth (friend)
Thackeray, William Makepeace (friend) - Short biography
- Charlotte Brontë was born in Thornton, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. Her parents were Maria Bramwell and Patrick Brontë, an Anglican clergyman and poet. In 1820, when she was a small child, the family moved to Haworth on the Yorkshire moors, where the Rev. Brontë had been appointed rector. The following year, Mrs. Brontë died. In 1824, Charlotte and Emily, along with their two elder sisters Maria and Elizabeth, were sent to the Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan Bridge, near Kirkby Lonsdale, Lancashire. The discipline there was harsh, and the girls found the food and other conditions miserable. Charlotte later portrayed the terrible school in her novel Jane Eyre as the Lowood Institution. After Maria and Elizabeth died in 1825, Charlotte and Emily returned home. Their father managed the upbringing of his three remaining daughters — Charlotte, Emily, and Anne — and son Bramwell thanks to the help of their maternal aunt Elizabeth Branwell, who left her native Cornwall to come and live with them. For more than five years, the Brontë children studied and played at home, writing and telling romantic tales for one another, and inventing imaginative games. At age 15, Charlotte enrolled at a new school not far from Haworth, Roe Head School. She spent 18 months there before returning home; in 1835, she went back again for a while as a teacher. To support herself and the family, Charlotte decided to become a governess and went with Emily to a boarding school in Brussels, Belgium, to improve their French and learn German. She later became a pupil-teacher there. Her unrequited love for the school's headmaster would eventually find an outlet in her novels Villette (1853) and The Professor (published posthumously in 1857). Before that, however, the ardent heart and rebellious spirit of her most famous creation, Jane Eyre (1847) brought immediate success and fame to the author under her pen name Currer Bell. Charlotte visited London three times at the invitation of her publisher and moved in literary circles, becoming a friend of Elizabeth Gaskell and William Makepeace Thackeray. Her novel Shirley (1849), written during and after the tragic deaths of her three siblings in a single year, showed Charlotte's engagement with both women's rights and workers' rights movements. In 1854, she married Arthur Nicholls, her father's curate and her long-time suitor. She became ill and died suddenly during pregnancy at age 38 in 1855. A comprehensive three-volume edition of her letters to family and friends, edited by Margaret Smith, was published in 1995-2004.
- Disambiguation notice
- Do not combine Charlotte with either or both of her sisters. Also, do not combine this page with that of "Bronte". Thank you.
Members
Discussions
November 2023: The Brontë Sisters in Monthly Author Reads (December 2023)
Jane Eyre in Franklin Library Collectors (January 2023)
Jane Eyre LEC in George Macy devotees (January 2023)
November Group Read: Shirley by Charlotte Brontë in 2014 Category Challenge (December 2014)
Jane Eyre in Book talk (July 2014)
Best Bronte Quote? in The Brontës (January 2014)
Jane Eyre in The Brontës (January 2014)
Jane Eyre/Wuthering Heights in Books Compared (March 2013)
1001 Group Read, Oct. 12: Villette in 1001 Books to read before you die (November 2012)
Villette Question in The Brontës (May 2012)
*** Group Read: Jane Eyre (Spoiler Thread) in 75 Books Challenge for 2011 (April 2011)
*** Group Read: Jane Eyre (Non-Spoiler Thread) in 75 Books Challenge for 2011 (April 2011)
Jane Eyre Group Read (For the Procrastinators) Week One in 75 Books Challenge for 2010 (December 2010)
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A coming of age story, filled with romance and suspense. Learning that pretty things don’t always equal a beautiful outcome. That sometimes the messy or unthinkable is the route your heart calls you to.
A favorite of mine, that I’ll continue to read over and over again.