Emily Bronte

Advantages: A fantastic treasuretrove of information
Disadvantages: None

...and Angrian Saga, set in fictitious states and using their toy soldiers as the main characters. All of the children wrote scripts, but only those written by Charlotte and Bramwell survive, those created by Emily and Anne are lost. At least at the moment. The book details the real people that had influence (some seemingly rather peripheral, others of more importance) on the Bronte family and their writings, and who had influences on the name of the family after their deaths. The book also details fictional characters from not only the novels but also from the plays they wrote as children. Indeed, there is a special section of the book devoted to Juvenilia of the Brontes, detailing there childhood literary and artistic accomplishments. Which were many, it must be said. It also contains biographies of every family member, letters to and from... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A true classic
Disadvantages: Very dark story

...I had never read this book until a couple of months ago, I had seen a couple of film versions, but no film can better what is a truly outstanding book. Dominated by the relationship between Heathcliffe and Cathy, the story is a brooding dark tale of tragic love and loss. Most of the characters are truly unlikeable, yet Emily Bronte draws you in so deep you find it hard to stop reading. Heathcliffe is a relentlessly unpleasant character yet fascinating at the same time.The book is essentially two stories told over a period of time and in my opinion is fantastic reading. Quite unlike other stories of its time. The characters, the setting, the narrative..........all just perfect. Read it and never forget it.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Insights into the true characters of Emily and Anne Bronte
Disadvantages: Not an easy read

..."Shirley" by Charlotte Bronte. Penguin Classics. ISBN 0-14-043095-4 This is a gem of a book, written just after Jane Eyre and set in the time of the Napoleonic Wars, it is one of Charlotte Bronte's best. It follows the fortunes of two women Caroline Helstone and Shirley Keeldar and their involvement with the Moore brothers. These relationships are set against the politics of England and the Continent at the time of the Luddite uprisings and Napoleonic wars respectively. In that respect Shirley has a farther reach as a novel than some of Charlotte Bronte's other more personal novels such as Jane Eyre. It is particularly interesting as a literary piece because there is some evidence that the two principle female characters are based on Charlotte's two sisters Anne and Emily and as such give the reader some insight into what... Read review

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