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Classic Authors: Charlotte Bronte

© Susan Jensen

Of the three Bronte sisters who became famous novelists, Charlotte is perhaps the most well known. This may be because she lived longer than her sisters, Emily and Anne, thus publishing more work than the others. Charlotte also differed from her siblings in that she enjoyed several close friendships, and eventually married. The Bronte sisters often receive general treatment, instead of individual focus, but Charlotte, especially, deserves a closer look.

Charlotte Bronte was born on April 21, 1816, in Thornton, Yorkshire, England. Her parents, Patrick and Maria (Branwell) Bronte already had two daughters, neither of whom would survive to adulthood. Before Maria's death in 1821, she bore three more children: Branwell, Emily and Anne. After Mrs. Bronte passed away, her sister, Elizabeth Branwell, arrived to care for Charlotte and her siblings.

In 1824, Charlotte and Emily were sent to the Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan Bridge in Lancashire. The school provided a free education to the daughters of indigent clergymen. The sisters felt that they received harsh treatment at the boarding school. In fact, Charlotte would later model her Lowood Asylum (Jane Eyre) after it. When an epidemic broke out at the school, all of the Brontes returned home to Haworth. The two oldest Bronte girls died from the illness they contracted at the school.

For the next few years, Charlotte received her education at home. In 1831, she attended Miss Wooter's School at Roe Head. After one year there, she went home to teach her brother and sisters. She returned to the school in 1835, this time as a teacher. It wasn't long, however, before she left the post, after bouts with ill health and depression. Once again, she retreated to Haworth, where she spent her days instructing her younger siblings, reading, sewing, drawing and walking with her sisters.

At one time Charlotte and Emily planned to open their own school. In order to broaden their knowledge of French and German, their aunt paid for them to travel to Brussels. After spending less than a year abroad, the two returned for their beloved aunt's funeral. Charlotte later traveled back to Brussels, but seemed to have been unhappy there. The school never materialized due to lack of interest.

In the fall of 1845, Charlotte found a collection of Emily's poems. This discovery led to the revelation that Charlotte, Emily and Anne were secretly writing verse. The three sisters decided to publish a collection of their poetry. It appeared in 1846, titled Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell. The volume sold only two copies. Although they were disappointed, the sisters each began writing a novel. Charlotte produced a story titled The Professor, which was rejected by publishers. However, it was rejected so nicely, that Charlotte was encouraged to write another book. In 1847, Jane Eyre appeared, becoming an immediate success. Soon after, Emily published Wuthering Heights(1847). Emily's book received such poor reviews that Charlotte was unable to enjoy the success that Jane Eyre found.