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1820 – 1849: The ‘Forgotten’ Bronte – Anne
Take Courage: Anne Bronte and the Art of Life
What you need to know before your trail
Anne Brontë has been described as the forgotten Brontë sister, overshadowed somewhat by her older and arguable more famous siblings Charlotte and Emily. Even their drunken brother Branwell seemed to be valued by their father more than her and her sisters.
Samantha Ellis, a life-long Emily and Wuthering Heights devotee decided to start looking into the matter and as she started looking more closely at Emily and Charlotte, found herself confronted by Anne instead.
They say it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for and this biography and book in one really goes to the Bronte heart and the literary world.
Travel Guide
Bronte Country
Bronte Country is a little pocket of literary landscape tucked away in Yorkshire. The Brontë Parsonage which you can visit (and you should!) was the family home. As you wander round its charming rooms, there are many original items displayed, manuscripts and letters and the furniture of the time. It’s as if the sisters have just upped and left and you really feel as if you’re walking in the footsteps of the sisters.
The three sisters lived here with their father but Anne was never the one singled out for attention. Anne has not really been written about much, so Samantha used letters, documents but also interferences of her own. Anne was a very private person so it may be that she either kept things hidden, destroyed them or were never written at all. Wildfell Hall is set on the wild Yorkshire landscape she loved and she missed it greatly when she wasn’t there.
Scarborough
Anne also showed a love of Scarbourough and worked there for the Robinson family. She writes poems where she writes of her love of the sea and open air (Lines Composed in a Wood on a Windy Day) She also loved York as between 1840 and 1845, Anne worked as governess to the Robinson children at Thorp Green Hall near this cobbled city.
Streetview Maps
A) Haworth - Bronte parsonage
C) Haworth - main street
Booktrailer Review
Susan: @thebooktrailer
I love the Bronte Sisters and do read a lot about them via their own books and the numerous biographies which have been written. I’ve never read much about Anne however so this was a nice refreshing change. There’s a real passion woven into this book and you can tell for the research is clear to see. But it’s the inferences which although obviously can’t be verified seem authentic and honest. The Bronte sisters have a certain image today – a literary haven of three supportive sisters but sometimes the reality was quite different. Brother Bramwell makes an appearance herein that regard.
I really enjoyed time with Anne Bronte. It was as if she’d stepped out from behind the shadows and really had her voice heard. There was lots I learned and I’ve been to the Bronte parsonage more times than I can remember. I now want to go back however, with this book in hand, and reread The Tenant of Wildfell Hall and I imagine I will be able to hear Anne’s whispers on the Yorkshire Moors more loudly now.
All Bronte fans needs this on their bookshelves. And anyone interested in the sister, who up until now has been largely hidden from view.
Booktrail Boarding Pass Information: Take Courage: Anne Bronte and the Art of Life
Author/Guide: Samantha Ellis Destination: Bronte Country Departure Time: 1820- 1849
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