The Letters of Charlotte Brontë: 1848-1851

Download or read book The Letters of Charlotte Brontë: 1848-1851 written by Charlotte Brontë and published by Clarendon Press. This book was released on 1995 with total page 866 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this volume we share Charlotte Bronte's experience for four crucial years. The success of Jane Eyre and the strange power of Wuthering Heights made the 'brothers Bell' the 'universal theme of conversation'; but privately the family endured the deaths of Branwell Bronte in September andEmily in December 1848, followed by Anne's in May 1849. Haunted by the fear that she also would succumb, Charlotte found salvation in writing Shirley, published in October 1849, and comfort in her friendship and correspondence with Ellen Nussey, with her publishers-especially George Smith-with MrsGaskell, and (for a time) Harriet Martineau. She may also have received a proposal of marriage from Smith, Edler's manager, James Taylor.