Project Gutenberg's Life of Charlotte Bronte, by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license

Title: Life of Charlotte Bronte

Author: Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

Posting Date: February 27, 2013 [EBook #1700] Release Date: April, 1999

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIFE OF CHARLOTTE BRONTE ***

The Life of Charlotte Brontë by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell

Volume 2

by ELIZABETH CLEGHORN GASKELL

CONTENTS OF VOLUME TWO

CHAPTER I.

Mr. Brontë afflicted with blindness, and relieved by a successful operation for cataract—Charlotte Brontë's first work of fiction, "The Professor"—She commences "Jane Eyre"—Circumstances attending its composition—Her ideas of a heroine—Her attachment to home—Haworth in December—A letter of confession and counsel.

CHAPTER II.

State of Charlotte Brontë's health at the commencement of 1847—Family trials—"Wuthering Heights" and "Agnes Grey" accepted by a publisher—"The Professor" rejected—Completion of "Jane Eyre", its reception and publication—The reviews of "Jane Eyre", and the author's comments on them—Her father's reception of the book—Public interest excited by "Jane Eyre"—Dedication of the second edition to Mr. Thackeray—Correspondence of Currer Bell with Mr. Lewes on "Jane Eyre"—Publication of "Wuthering Heights" and "Agnes Grey"—Miss Brontë's account of the authoress of "Wuthering Heights"—Domestic anxieties of the Brontë sisters—Currer Bell's correspondence with Mr. Lewes—Unhealthy state of Haworth—Charlotte Brontë on the revolutions of 1848—Her repudiation of authorship—Anne Brontë's second tale, "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall"—Misunderstanding as to the individuality of the three Bells, and its results—Currer and Acton Bell visit London—Charlotte Brontë's account of her visit—The Chapter Coffee House—The Clergy Daughters' School at Casterton—Death of Branwell Brontë—Illness and death of Emily Brontë.

CHAPTER III.

The Quarterly Review on "Jane Eyre"—Severe illness of Anne Brontë—Her last verses—She is removed to Scarborough—Her last hours, and death and burial there—Charlotte's return to Haworth, and her loneliness.

CHAPTER IV.

Commencement and completion of "Shirley"—Originals of the characters, and circumstances under which it was written—Loss on railway shares—Letters to Mr. Lewes and other friends on "Shirley," and the reviews of it—Miss Brontë visits London, meets Mr. Thackeray, and makes the acquaintance of Miss Martineau—Her impressions of literary men.

CHAPTER V.

"Currer Bell" identified as Miss Brontë at Haworth and the vicinity—Her letter to Mr. Lewes on his review of "Shirley"—Solitude and heavy mental sadness and anxiety—She visits Sir J. and Lady Kay Shuttleworth—Her comments on critics, and remarks on Thackeray's "Pendennis" and Scott's "Suggestions on Female Education"—Opinions of "Shirley" by Yorkshire readers.

CHAPTER VI.

An unhealthy spring at Haworth—Miss Brontë's proposed visit to London—Her remarks on "The Leader"—Associations of her walks on the moors—Letter to an unknown admirer of her works—Incidents of her visit to London—Her impressions of a visit to Scotland—Her portrait, by Richmond—Anxiety about her father.

CHAPTER VII.

Visit to Sir J. and Lady Kay Shuttleworth—The biographer's impressions of Miss Brontë—Miss Brontë's account of her visit to the Lakes of Westmoreland—Her disinclination for acquaintance and visiting—Remarks on "Woman's Mission," Tennyson's "In Memoriam," etc.—Impressions of her visit to Scotland—Remarks on a review in the "Palladium."

CHAPTER VIII.

Intended republication of "Wuthering Heights" and "Agnes Grey"—Reaction after her visit to Scotland—Her first meeting with Mr. Lewes—Her opinion of Balzac and George Sand—A characteristic incident—Account of a friendly visit to Haworth Parsonage—Remarks on "The Roman," by Sydney Dobell, and on the character of Dr. Arnold—Letter to Mr. Dobell.

CHAPTER IX.

Miss Brontë's visit to Miss Martineau, and estimate of her hostess—Remarks on Mr. Ruskin's "Stones of Venice"—Preparations for another visit to London—Letter to Mr. Sydney Dobell: the moors in autumn—Mr. Thackeray's second lecture at Willis's Rooms, and sensation produced by Currer Bell's appearance there—Her account of her visit to London—She breakfasts with Mr. Rogers, visits the Great Exhibition, and sees Lord Westminster's pictures—Return to Haworth and letter thence—Her comment on Mr. Thackeray's Lecture—Counsel on development of character.

CHAPTER X.

Remarks on friendship—Letter to Mrs. Gaskell on her and Miss Martineau's views of the Great Exhibition and Mr. Thackeray's lecture, and on the "Saint's Tragedy"—Miss Brontë's feelings towards children—Her comments on Mr. J. S. Mill's article on the Emancipation of Women—More illness at Haworth Parsonage—Letter on Emigration—Periodical returns of illness—Miss Wooler visits Haworth—Miss Brontë's impressions of her visit to London—Her account of the progress of Villette—Her increasing illness and sufferings during winter—Her letter on Mr. Thackeray's Esmond—Revival of sorrows and accessions of low spirits—Remarks on some recent books—Retrospect of the winter of 1851-2—Letter to Mrs. Gaskell on "Ruth."

CHAPTER XI.

Miss Brontë revisits Scarborough—Serious illness and ultimate convalescence of her father—Her own illness—"Villette" nearly completed—Further remarks on "Esmond" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin"—Letter respecting "Villette"—Another letter about "Villette"—Instance of extreme sensibility.

CHAPTER XII.

The biographer's difficulty—Deep and enduring attachment of Mr. Nicholls for Miss Brontë—Instance of her self-abnegation—She again visits London—Impressions of this visit—Letter to Mrs. Gaskell—Reception of the critiques on "Villette"—Misunderstanding with Miss Martineau—Letter on Mr. Thackeray's portrait—Visit of the Bishop of Ripon to Haworth Parsonage—Her wish to see the unfavourable critiques on her works—Her nervous shyness of strangers, and its cause—Letter on Mr. Thackeray's lectures.

CHAPTER XIII.

Letter to Mrs. Gaskell on writing fiction, etc.—The biographer's account of her visit to Haworth, and reminiscences of conversations with Miss Brontë—Letters from Miss Brontë to her friends—Her engagement to Mr. Nicholls, and preparations for the marriage—The marriage ceremony and wedding tour—Her happiness in the married state—New symptoms of illness, and their cause—The two last letters written by Mrs. Nicholls—An alarming change—Her death.

CHAPTER XIV.