The Brontes.
We enjoyed a challenging quiz on the Bronte family. Our initial stimulus was to listen to an NWR talk on The Bronte Family by Margaret Mills. (This is a brief summary. Please listen to Margaret’s informative talk.)
Margaret named every family member, the circumstances of their upbringing, their interest in telling stories which in time led to a love of writing. As children they created miniature books and also invented Victorian heroes based on a set of toy soldiers which Branwell had received as a gift.
There were six children in all. Five girls and one boy. Sadly two of the girls, Elizabeth and Maria died at a very young age from consumption/TB. They were 12 and ten years old. They had attended a school as boarders where they became ill. Their father Patrick immediately brought his daughter’s home.
He had been left a widow when the girls; Charlotte’ Emily and Anne were only five, three and one year old. Their aunt Elisabeth spent the next twenty years looking after them.
In her talk Margaret described their eventual success as writers of the books for which they are famous though initially they had to invent names to disguise the fact that they were women. This aspect of their lives is featured in the film. ‘To Walk Invisible’.
Branwell was also a gifted writer of poetry however he lost his way, heartbroken, and became an alcoholic. Their father Patrick encouraged his children to read and ensured they were all educated. He wrote a book which nowadays one would regard as an easy reader to encourage literacy. He was also very keen to supply fresh water to the town to improve health.
As we became interested in the location of their home territory, we discovered a good talk and walk in Bronte country by Tony Robinson. (See You Tube.) ‘Walking through history’.
We also discovered that there is a Bronte Trail. Bronte Waterfall Walk & Free Guide | Bronte Adventures