Publication of Charlotte Bronte’s Shirley

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Publication of Charlotte Bronte’s Shirley

Background on Charlotte Bronte

Maria Brandwell Bronte gave birth to Charlotte, her third child out of six within the span of seven years, on April 12, 1816 in Bradford, Yorkshire. Charlotte began her schooling at the Clergy Daughter’s School on August 10, 1824, but due to harsh conditions at the school she returned after only one year. Upon returning home she was schooled by her aunt, and then attended Roe Head in 1831. Charlotte struggled finding an occupation that she enjoyed. She became a teacher at Roe Head, but she hated the way it was run and left shortly thereafter. She also tried to be a governess twice, but due to her shy nature and the fact that she missed her sisters so dearly, she returned home. Charlotte’s thirst for knowledge took her to Brussels with her sister Emily, where she learned French, German, and management skills.

After Charlotte’s trip to Brussels, she had a streak of bad luck. In 1844 she attempted to open her own school, but failed. She then wrote a collection of poems with her sisters entitled Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton, but only sold two copies. She then decided to write her own novel, The Professor in 1846, but could not get it published. She attempted six different times, but no one would publish her book.

Charlotte Bronte obtained her fame in 1874 when she published her first novel, Jane Eyre, which was an immediate success. Bronte did not want to use her real name, so at this time she called herself Currer Bell. Following Jane Eyre, Bronte wrote Shirley in 1848, but her second novel did not go over well with the public. In 1853, Bronte wrote Villette as a third novel, which was another success for her. Charlotte Bronte’s life began to take a turn for the better. She got married in 1854 to Arthur Bell Nicholls, who was her father’s curate. Unfortunately, she died on March 31, 1855, just a year after her marriage to Nicholls. She died from a digestive tract infection, and her unborn child died with her. It was said that she contracted this disease from her servant, Toby. Although Charlotte Bronte faced many setbacks throughout her life, she will forever remain an outstanding Victorian novelist because of her talented writing style.

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