There are few literary families as famous or influential as the Brontës. Through their books, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë challenged Victorian conventions and perceptions of women. The Brontë sisters were certainly interesting figures, and their books are still read and widely beloved today.
Without a doubt, we're fascinated with the Brontës here at Proseposters—so much so that we've created Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights wall art using the words of Charlotte's and Emily's books! Are you fascinated by the Brontë sisters, too, and want to know more about them? Read on to learn all about Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë.
Who was Charlotte Brontë?
Charlotte was the eldest of the three Brontë sisters to survive into adulthood, and most famous for penning the gothic classic Jane Eyre. She was perhaps the most adventurous of the three sisters and at one point ended up living and working in Belgium where she (rather infamously) fell in love with a married schoolmaster.
Charlotte Brontë can perhaps also be credited with her sisters' foray into penning novels. In 1845, she discovered a book of poems Emily had written and encouraged her sister to publish them. Although the book wasn't successful, it's believed it inspired the three Brontës to try writing their own novels.
Who was Emily Brontë?
In December 1847, Emily published Wuthering Heights under the pen name Ellis Bell. Although Wuthering Heights is probably the most popular of the Brontë sisters' works today, it did not find the instant success that Charlotte's Jane Eyre did. Many readers were shocked by Emily's bleak and often violent depiction of the love between Catherine and Heathcliff.
Emily was also the most reclusive of the sisters and often said that she preferred the company of animals to people. When speculation arose that Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, and Agnes Grey were written by the same person (all three sisters used male pseudonyms), the Brontës found it necessary to travel to London to prove their individual identities. However, reclusive as always, Emily refused to go along to visit their publisher.
Who was Anne Brontë?
Anne was the youngest of Patrick and Maria Brontë's six children—only four of which survived to adulthood. Of the three sisters, Anne Brontë's works are probably the least widely read, but they stands on their own as a classic greats. While all of the Brontë sisters wrote books with strong female characters, Anne was by far the most progressive. Her book The Tenant of Wildfowl Hall is considered to be one of the first feminist novels.
Anne's second, and last, novel tells the story of a young woman who flees an abusive marriage to make a life for herself and her young son on her own terms. As you can imagine, the story greatly shocked Victorian readers at a time when society still viewed women as weak and dependent on men.
Which of the three Brontë sisters' works are your favorites?
Tell us why in the comments below!👇
Who are we? At Proseposters, take the words of your favorite classic books and use them to create stunning works of art. From wall posters to art prints to diary planners and more, we make bookish art for bookish people.