Book description
As an orphan, Jane's childhood is not an easy one but her independence
and strength of character keep her going through the miseries inflicted
by cruel relatives and a brutal school. However, her biggest challenge
is yet to come. Taking a job as a governess in a house full of secrets,
for a passionate man she grows more and more attracted to, ultimately
forces Jane to call on all her resources in order to hold on to her
beliefs. Charlotte Brontë was born on 21 April 1816. Her father was
curate of Haworth, Yorkshire and her mother died when she was five years
old, leaving five daughters and one son. In 1824 Charlotte, Maria,
Elizabeth, and Emily were sent to Cowan Bridge, a school for clergymen's
daughters, where Maria and Elizabeth both caught tuberculosis and died.
The children were taught at home from this point on and together they
created vivid fantasy worlds which they explored in their writing.
Charlotte worked as a teacher from 1835 to 1838 and then as a governess.
In 1846, along with Emily and Anne, Charlotte published
Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell
. After this Emily wrote Wuthering Heights
, Anne wrote Agnes Grey
and Charlotte wrote The Professor
. Wuthering
Heights
and Agnes Grey
were both published but Charlotte's novel was initially rejected. In
1847 Jane Eyre
became her first published novel and met with immediate success.
Between 1848 and 1849 Charlotte lost her remaining siblings: Emily,
Branwell and Anne. She published Shirley
in 1849, Villette
in 1853 and in 1854 she married the Revd. Arthur Bell Nicholls. She
died the next year, on 31 March 1855.
