Emily Brontļæ1/2 (British Library Writers' Lives) [Paperback]

Robert Barnard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 2000 | Series: British Library Writers' Lives

Largely self-educated, Emily Bronte (1818-1848) was her father's favorite daughter and spent most of her life at the rectory in Haworth, on the edge of the Yorkshire moors. She lead a protected, uneventful existence, with almost no social contacts. Robert Barnard examines her insulated childhood, peculiarities, social boorishness, and aversion to relationships. He includes excerpts of Emily's lyrical poems of her twenties which presage the raw intensity of Wuthering Heights. Many aspects of her only novel are shaped by her own experiences, and the author traces the real-life counterparts of characters, landscape, and buildings. He draws extensively from critical sources varying from early reviews of Wuthering Heights to Gaskell's appraisal of Emily's "stern selfishness," to Juliet Barker's recent biography of the Bronte family.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up-These volumes fill a real need for high-quality works of literary criticism and history. Without oversimplifying or writing down to their audience, the authors supply accurate information in concise presentations that are formatted attractively and supplemented by outstanding illustrative materials. A careful choice of authors assures readable content and clearly stated theses. For example, Barnard, a well-known mystery author, literary critic, and past chair of the Bront' Society, engagingly describes his subject's short life and enigmatic character, and, based on the latest research, raises fascinating questions about her writings, especially Wuthering Heights. Hebron, a manager of England's Wordsworth Trust, presents an equally compelling outline of his subject's long and often complicated poetic career. He covers the significant issues in Wordsworth's life and works with care and clarity, and provides a lucid explanation of the poet's profound influence both on his contemporaries and on later writers. The many attractive color and black-and-white illustrations include reproductions of original manuscripts from the British Library's rich collections. There are many other books of similar scope, but few put together the information so succinctly and attractively. Overall, excellent reference sources for research.
Starr E. Smith, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Barnard, a well-known mystery author, literary critic, and past chair of the Bronte Society, engagingly describes his subject's short life and enigmatic character, and, based on the latest research, raises fascinating questions about her writings, especially Wuthering Heights."--School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (September 21, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195216563
• ISBN-13: 978-0195216561
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,890,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Visually Appealing, Packed With Facts, January 16, 2006

By 

Cedric's Mom (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Emily Brontļæ1/2 (British Library Writers' Lives) (Paperback)

The British Library Writers' Lives Series on EMILY BRONTE was shelved in the Biography section at my library with a "Young Adult" sticker on the spine. But why should the YA set have all the fun? This 112-page volume is packed with goodies:

It's Colorful.

Glossy pages, which makes for great reproductions of artwork.

Reproductions of Emily Bronte's original manuscripts (clearly readable with a magnifying glass or reading glasses).

Maps of where the Brontes lived and the settings for their books.

Many color and B&W photos of the Bronte homes.

Emily's watercolors and drawings (quite good ones, too).

Photos and drawings of structures and places that inspired Wuthering Heights.

Emily's poetry (also quite good).

Chronology of the Brontes.

Index.

Further reading.

This biography is primarly about Emily, but because her life was so intertwined with her sister Charlotte's life, the book is almost a dual biography. Probably because a young woman's life in the 19th century (on the English moor, anyway) was so family-centered, do we read so much about the entire Bronte family and those they daily interacted with.

Robert Barnard (author) is the Chairman of the Bronte Society and a writer of crime novels as well. His mystery/detective sense shines through in this volume, as he seems to be able to spot a smoking gun here and there in the Bronte history. He often highlights discrepancies, mysteries, and twists in the history of the Bronte family. Apparantly, there is no shortage of such mysteries and has given rise to many theories about the family and the girls.

This book is a fine introduction to the life of the Brontes. The photos, drawings, and other coloful items included in this slim volume bring this 19th century history to life. I highly recommend it for Young Adults and other adults as well.