The Life of Charlotte Brontë by Elizabeth Gaskell

The three sisters -Charlotte, Emily, Anne- were talented in writing, they first published their works under pseudonym, and after the success of their novels they revealed their true identities. This book is written by her friend Elizabeth Gaskell who used Charlotte's letters to her friends to write this biography,the letters showed some aspects of Charlotte's feelings and personality.Ĭharlotte Bronte lived a hard life, lost her mother and two older sisters while she was a little girl, she became like a mother to her younger sisters, and worked as a governess for almost two years. I read about her life before but i enjoyed reading this book too No doubt Gaskell had a concern for Charlotte's reputation but it is my belief that she had a far greater concern for her own.Charlotte Bronte one of my favorite authors of classics, i think she's a fascinating person,her writings were emotional and honest reflecting life and people at that time, focusing on moral values and responsibility. Sadly, Gaskell seems more concerned with offending the opinions of her time than celebrating the life of her friend as it really was.

Gaskell's use of Charlotte's personal letters in this biography. However, this biography does make Charlotte appealing and some keys to Charlotte's true nature may be discovered from Mrs. Gaskell was too much a slave to her era to look for it.

The truth must surely be somewhere in between but Mrs. Gaskell seems to doubt that Emily could be redeemed at all but paints Anne as little less than a saint.

Emily is unfairly portrayed as a selfish, angry enigma who was even more unlady like than Charlotte. Charlotte is seen not as a brave survivor of her family tragedies but a woman who can't be blamed for her faults because of the circumstances of her life. Gaskell seems to apologize for Charlotte's perceived unlady like qualties, begging the reader to excuse Charlotte for being so warped as to belive a woman could think on her own. An interesting and entertaing book it does not, however, describe Charlotte as she really was.

This biography is a well written and affectionate portrait of Charlotte Bronte who was Gaskell's personal friend.

The Life of Charlotte Brontë by Elizabeth Gaskell