"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 ... Read review
17/5/08 'You expected bread, and you have got a stone; break your teeth on it, and don't ... more
shriek...you will have learned the great lesson how to endure without a sob.' Shirley is Charlotte Bronte's only historical novel and her most topical one.
Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: in stock
Advantages: Insights into the true characters of Emily and Anne Bronte Disadvantages: Not an easy read
...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 ... ...shy and retiring individual whilst Shirley Keeldar (modelled on Emily) a confident, self possessed and fiery personality. What is both an interesting and sad fact is that the description of Caroline's illness was written around the time of Anne Bronte's death.
I will not pretend that this is an easy book to read but it is worth the effort.
"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 these two authors were like as individuals, at least from their sister's point of view.
We find Caroline Helstone (modelled on Anne) a shy and retiring individual whilst Shirley Keeldar (modelled on Emily) a confident, self possessed and fiery personality. What is both an interesting and sad fact is that the description of Caroline's illness was written around the time of Anne Bronte's death.
I will not pretend that this is an easy book to read but it is worth the effort.
Advantages: Fantastic characters, shows Bronte's ability to the optimum Disadvantages: Won't appeal to those who don't like this type of classic
...novel, especially when the independent Shirley is contrasted with Caroline, who worries about becoming an old maid. It's vital to remember that Charlotte was writing in one of the most anti-feminist eras of history and that even the relatively-mild Jane Eyre was criticised for having a female character with strong emotion and opinions. Shirley is a free spirit who acts like a boy because her parents 'gave me a boy's name' (hard to get your head around ... ...as a girls name!), taking control of her wealth and property with a dominance which was unusual in the nineteenth century, when women would rely on male relatives or friends to take care of their estate.
Charlotte Bronte also shows an industrial/economic awareness that I never expected of her: the ending is beautiful, as despite the characters themselves finding happiness, there is a sense of unease as the land around them is changing and the future ...
DoubleFantasy11 13.08.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Shirley - Charlotte Bronte
Advantages: Involving, moving and very deep characters Disadvantages: None
...in sympathy with Caroline at some points.
I would highly reccomend this book, even for people who tend not to like the classics because- unlike some authors- Charlotte Bronte's writing has stood the test of time, in terms of readablilty. Shirley is an excellent example of her work. ...
TangoLady 26.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Shirley - Charlotte Bronte
