Charlotte Brontë

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English novelist and poet

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Portrait by George Richmond, 1850

Native name
Born	Charlotte Brontë 21 April 1816 Thornton, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died	31 March 1855(1855-03-31) (aged 38) Haworth, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Resting place
Pen name
Nickname
Occupation	Novelist, poet
Language	English
Nationality	British

Charlotte Brontë (21 April 1816 – 31 March 1855) was an English novelist and poet, the eldest of the three Brontë sisters who survived into adulthood and whose novels became classics of English literature. She wrote under the pen name Currer Bell.

Early life

Charlotte Brontë was born in Thornton, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, the third of six children of Patrick Brontë, an Anglican clergyman, and his wife, Maria. In 1820, the family moved to the village of Haworth, where Patrick had been appointed Perpetual Curate. After the death of their mother in 1821, the children were largely raised by their aunt, Elizabeth Branwell.

Education

In 1824, Charlotte and her sisters, Emily and Maria, were sent to the Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan Bridge, a harsh institution that provided the inspiration for the fictional Lowood School in Jane Eyre. The poor conditions at the school affected Charlotte's health and contributed to the deaths of Maria and Elizabeth.

Literary career

Charlotte Brontë's first novel, The Professor, was rejected by publishers. However, her second novel, Jane Eyre, was published in 1847 under the pen name Currer Bell and achieved immediate success. The novel's innovative style and exploration of the inner life of its protagonist, Jane Eyre, marked a significant development in the novel as a literary form.

Following the success of Jane Eyre, Brontë published Shirley in 1849 and Villette in 1853. Both novels were well-received, although neither matched the popularity of Jane Eyre. Her final novel, The Professor, was published posthumously in 1857.

Personal life

In 1854, Charlotte Brontë married Arthur Bell Nicholls, her father's curate. She became pregnant soon after but died on 31 March 1855, possibly from complications related to pregnancy, though the exact cause of her death remains uncertain.

Legacy

Charlotte Brontë's work has had a lasting impact on English literature. Jane Eyre is considered one of the greatest novels in the English language and has been adapted into numerous film, television, and theatre productions. Her exploration of themes such as social class, gender roles, and individualism continues to resonate with readers and scholars.

Related pages

• Emily Brontë
• Anne Brontë
• Patrick Brontë
• Brontë family
• Jane Eyre
• Victorian literature
• Gothic fiction

References

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