Emily Jane Brontë (July 30, 1818 – December 19, 1848) was a British novelist and poet, best remembered for her only novel Wuthering Heights, which is now an acknowledged classic of English literature.
Easton Press Emily Brontë books
Wuthering Heights - 100 Greatest Books Ever Written - 1980
Franklin Library Emily Brontë books
Wuthering Heights - 100 Greatest Books of All Time - 1975
Wuthering Heights - World's Best Loved Books - 1978
Wuthering Heights - Greatest Books of the World's Greatest Writers - 1979
Wuthering Heights - Heirloom Library of the World's Greatest Books - 1979
Wuthering Heights - Family Library of the World's Great Books - 1979
Wuthering Heights - Heirloom Library of the World's Greatest Books - 1979
Wuthering Heights - Family Library of the World's Great Books - 1979
Wuthering Heights - Oxford Library of The World's Greatest Books - 1984
Who was Emily Brontë?
Emily was born at Thornton in Yorkshire to Patrick Brontë and Maria Branwell. She was the younger sister of Charlotte Brontë and the fifth of six children. In 1820, the family moved to Haworth, where Emily's father was perpetual curate, and it was in these surroundings that their literary talent flourished. In childhood, after the death of their mother, the three sisters and their brother Branwell created imaginary lands (Angria, Gondal, Gaaldine), which featured in stories they wrote. Little of Emily's work from this period survives, except for poems spoken by characters (The Brontës' Web of Childhood, Fannie Ratchford, 1941).In 1838, Emily commenced work as a governess at Miss Patchett's Ladies Academy at Law Hill Hall, near Halifax. Later, with her sister Charlotte, she attended a private school in Brussels.
It was the discovery of Emily's poetic talent by her family that led her and her sisters, Charlotte and Anne, to publish a joint collection of their poetry in 1846. To evade contemporary prejudice against female writers, all three used male pseudonyms, Emily's being "Ellis Bell".
She subsequently published her only novel, Wuthering Heights, in 1847 - a powerful, poetic work, but whose innovative structure somewhat puzzled critics. Although it received mixed reviews when it first came out, the book subsequently became an English literary classic.
Like her sisters, Emily's constitution had been weakened by their harsh life at home and at school. She died on December 19, 1848 of tuberculosis, having caught a chill during the funeral of her brother in September, and was interred in the Church of St. Michael and All Angels family vault, Haworth, West Yorkshire, England.
Emily was a woman of remarkable force of character, reserved and taciturn.
Emily Brontë poems
Known primarily for her novel Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë also wrote poetry. Her poems, often characterized by their intense emotion, connection to nature, and exploration of the human spirit, are part of a collection published posthumously by her sister Charlotte Brontë. Emily Brontë peoms include: Love and Friendship - This poem explores the themes of love and friendship, and it reflects Brontë's complex views on these relationships. Remembrance - A poignant and melancholic poem that reflects on the themes of memory and loss. The Night-Wind - This atmospheric poem captures the mysterious and untamed aspects of nature, echoing Brontë's connection to the Yorkshire moors. Hope - In Hope, Brontë delves into the idea of hope as both a source of comfort and a torment, emphasizing the emotional turmoil within the speaker. Spellbound - Spellbound explores themes of enchantment and captivity, drawing on the imagery of a spell and the impact it has on the speaker.It's important to note that Emily Brontë's poetry is not as extensive as her sister Charlotte's or some other poets of the time. However, her poems, like her novel "Wuthering Heights," are revered for their emotional depth and the atmospheric, almost mystical quality that characterizes her writing.
How did Emily Brontë die?
Tragically, Emily Brontë's life was cut short at the age of 30 when she succumbed to tuberculosis on December 19, 1848. Her literary legacy, however, endures through the enduring popularity and critical acclaim of "Wuthering Heights." Despite her relatively brief literary career, Emily Brontë is remembered as a literary genius whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the landscape of English literature.
The novels of Charlotte and Emily Brontë are remarkable for their insight into character, and for the frankness with which they depicted the passions of their heroines, at a time when Victorian traditions in England dictated that women be portrayed as gentle creatures who lived conventional and passionless lives. Emily Brontë was also a poet of distinction. Her Old Stoic (contained in Poems) and her Last Lines (published posthumously) are notable contributions to English poetry.
Wuthering Heights
At the centre of this novel is the passionate love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff recounted with such emotional intensity that a plain tale of the Yorkshire moors acquires the depth and simplicity of ancient tragedy.Marooned
overnight in a lonely home on the Yorkshire moors, the effete Lockwood
dreams of a wraith locked out in the snow. Gradually he learns the
violent history of the house's owner, the fierce, saturnine Heathcliff
and the thwarted love that has led him to exact terrible revenge on the
two families that have sought to oppose him.
Since its original publication in 1847, Emily Bronte's only novel, whether repelling, captivating or intriguing different generations of readers, has never relaxed its powerful grip on the public, and the figure of the haunted, brutal Heathcliff has become part of Britain's cultural mythology.
Since its original publication in 1847, Emily Bronte's only novel, whether repelling, captivating or intriguing different generations of readers, has never relaxed its powerful grip on the public, and the figure of the haunted, brutal Heathcliff has become part of Britain's cultural mythology.
Additional information and source: Emily Brontë