The Spell

Charlotte Brontë wrote this book in her teen years for the entertainment of her siblings. Obviously, she and they were quite a bright bunch, as the writing and the story are complex. In fact, sometimes too complex for understanding. Fortunately, scholars confirm that internal contradictions in the story are beyond comprehension so when I was confused I was not alone. But that is no reason not to read this short, elegant fantasy. Set in a fictional world, a duke has lost his young son and wife in childbirth and his reactions are cold and mysterious. His new bride, a fan of his romantic poetry, cannot decipher his split personality. At times he’s loving and tender, and weak and near death. Then he’s cruel and hateful, but a beautiful show more specimen of man. Sometimes, she witnesses these two sides within minutes of one another. His younger brother narrates the story, initially calling on readers to turn against the duke given his dastardly treatment of others in this manner. I guessed correctly at the source of this man’s behavior but the explanation of it completely lost me. And I think that’s the inexplicable part of the story. I also despised the duke’s new wife’s servile and worshiping attitude towards her husband. But I’m very glad to have read it. It is clear she would become a beautiful author. show less