Cambridge Companion To The Brontes, The

The extraordinary works of the three sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte have entranced and challenged scholars, students, and general readers for the past 150 years. This Companion offers a fascinating introduction to those works, including two of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century - Charlotte's Jane Eyre and Emily's Wuthering Heights. In a series of original essays, contributors explore the roots of the sisters' achievement in early nineteenth-century Haworth, and the childhood 'plays' they developed; they set these writings within the context of a wider history, and show how each sister engages with some of the central issues of her time. The essays also consider the meaning and significance of the Brontes' enduring popular appeal. A detailed chronology and guides to further reading provide further reference material, making this a volume indispensable for scholars and students, and all those interested in the Brontes and their work. Review: 'The essays stimulate and provoke, they are well-structured, well-argued and insightful. The reader will re-read the novels and poems with new knowledge and enjoyment.' Reference Reviews 'The collection provides us with discoveries, new angles, and unexpected perceptions.' Bronte Studies ' ... the essays stimulate and provoke, they are well-structured, well-argued and insightful. The authors are deeply versed in their subjects and are good at exploring ideas and making the reader aware of underlying themes.' Reference Reviews Table of Contents: Chronology; Introduction Heather Glen; 1. The Haworth context Juliet Barker; 2. The Brontes' childhood writings Carol Bock; 3. The poetry of the Brontes Angela Leighton; 4. The Professor, Agnes Grey, and Wuthering Heights Stevie Davies; 5. Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Jill Matus; 6. Shirley and Villette Heather Glen; 7. Ideology, personality, and the Bronte characters Rick Rylance; 8. Women writing and publishing Kate Flint; 9. The Brontes and religion John Maynard; 10. The Bronte myth Patsy Stoneman; Guide to further reading. Author Biography: Heather Glen is senior lecturer in English at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of New Hall, Cambridge.