We continue our series on famous British historical figures with a profile of the Bronte sisters.

The Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, lived between 1816 and 1855 and may be the best-known British novel writers ever. Between them, they produced seven novels.

Their life was not easy and Charlotte, who outlived her younger sisters, died at age 38 just one month before her 39th birthday. Their father changed their original last name from the Irish Brunty to Brontë because he thought it sounded more English and less Irish.

He was embarrassed by his poor Irish family and wanted a more English-sounding name.

He added the umlaut so the name would be pronounced with two syllables.

All three sisters published their first work, a poetry volume, under male pseudonyms because they expected readers would not accept the work of female writers.

They used the last name Bell. Charlotte wrote under the name Currier, Emily as Ellis, and Anne as Acton.

They continued with those pseudonyms when they ventured into novel publishing.

BIRTH AND EARLY LIFE

There were two years separating each Bronte sister. Charlotte was born in 1816, Emily in 1818, and Anne in 1820. They were all born in Thornton, Yorkshire, England. One year after Anne’s birth, their mother died, and their Aunt Elizabeth came to take care of them.

Life at Haworth and the Parsonage. The Brontë family moved to the Haworth Parsonage in 1820 when the children were just toddlers. Their father became the rector and the home is now the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Their father remained there until his death in 1861 at the age of 85.  The children were left alone a lot during their young years. They spent a lot of time together and all began writing poetry and stories.

Their brother and other family. There were two more Brontë sisters: Elizabeth and Maria. They were a few years older than Charlotte, and both died in 1825. Maria died when she was 12 and Elizabeth died at age 11.

They both died of consumption, known now as tuberculosis, they caught at the boarding school they attended known as Cowan Bridge. Charlotte and Emily also attended the school for a short time, but their father brought them home after the death of their sisters.

A brother, Branwell, just a year younger than Charlotte, strived throughout his life to be a success. He wrote poetry. He was a portrait artist but could not support himself with that venture.

He was fired from his job as a tutor. Although his writings often found their way into print, he never really felt like a success.

He suffered from depression and turned to alcohol to soothe his sense of failure. He died in September 1848 at the age of 31, apparently from tuberculosis.

All the Brontës suffered many illnesses throughout their lives, most notably tuberculosis.

After the deaths of Emily, Anne, and Branwell, Patrick Brontë, their father instigated an investigation into the problems with the town, which found “inadequate privies” and run off from a graveyard contaminated the water supply.

CHARLOTTE’S WORKS

Charlotte Brontë wrote approximately 200 poems and several novels. Her most well-known is “Jane Eyre” which was initially published under her pseudonym of Currier Bell. The book was an immediate commercial success and received great reviews.

Charlotte based the Lowood school setting in her novel on the Cowan Bridge School where her older sisters got sick and died. Charlotte always blamed the school for their death.

Charlotte claimed the Cowan Bridge School was much worse than the Lowood school, stating “Had I told all the truth, I might indeed have made it far more exquisitely painful.

EMILY’S WORKS

Emily Brontë wrote just one novel, “Wuthering Heights.” It was published under her pseudonym, Ellis Bell in 1847, just one year before her death.

Although now it is recognized as a literary classic, it was not popular when first published. In fact, Emily had to pay to have it published. It was not truly appreciated until after Emily’s death. Now, it is considered to be one of the great novels from the Victorian era.

ANNE’S WORKS

Anne Brontë published her first work, “Agnes Grey” under her pseudonym of Acton Bell. The story followed the activities of the governess Agnes Grey. 

Anne’s second book, “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall,” also published under the name Ellis Bell, was said to be based on the life of her brother, Branwell. Charlotte did not approve of the book and kept it from publication during her lifetime.

LATER LIFE AND DEATH

The sisters all worked at various times as teachers and governesses. They spent a lot of time writing. They all created an imaginary world for themselves which contributed to their success as authors.

Unfortunately, they all died young. Their poor father outlived all of his six children. Branwell died in September 1848.  

Emily Brontë “caught a chill” at her brother’s funeral and died just three months later in December 1848 at the age of 30. Anne did not make it much longer and died in May 1849 also from tuberculosis. She was only 28.

Charlotte was left alone and mourned the loss of her siblings. She continued writing and married her father’s curate (a member of the clergy).

She died just shy of her 39th birthday due to pregnancy complications.