Customer Reviews

The Works of The Bronte Sisters (Wordsworth Poetry Library)

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Charlotte's poems tend to be lengthier and confounded with awkward language. Anne's are simple and often wonderfully clear. But the best of the poems are those of Emily, where intellect and passion combine to at time produce verses of distinction.
The three sisters, novelists and poets, who all tragically died young were part of a family of poets which included their minister father, and their unfortunate brother.
They of course are all most known for their respective novels , two of which Emily's "Wuthering Heights" and Charlotte's "Jane Eyre" are part of the literary canon.
Still the poetry gives insight into their mind and souls.

This is a reprint of the original poetry collection published in 1846 under the pseudonyms of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell.

The book contains 21 poems each by Emily and Anne, and 19 by Charlotte. While Charlotte's poems are more conventionally constructed in terms of their versification, it is Emily and Anne who are the more accomplished poets.

For those who only know the Bronte sisters through their prose, their poetry gives another insight into their creativity. In my view, Emily's poetry is the most original and passionate. Anne's poetry is uncluttered and observational, while Charlotte's poetry is conventional and descriptive.

This early collection does not contain my favourite Emily Bronte Poem 'No Coward Soul is Mine': it was not published until after Emily's death.

Highly recommended to those with an interest in the Bronte sisters beyond the novels.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

Note: the edition I own is the 1995 edition.