Classic Books & Authors – The Bronte Family: Emily Brontë

Published by

on

Background

Emily Brontë was the fifth child of Patrick Brontë and Maria Branwell. She is known for her intense gothic novel, Wuthering Heights, which has remained consistently among the top three best-selling English language classic novels.

Emily’s is reported to have been unsociable and extremely shy. After her death from tuberculosis, Charlotte said the following about her:

“My sister’s disposition was not naturally gregarious; circumstances favoured and fostered her tendency to seclusion; except to go to church or take a walk on the hills, she rarely crossed the threshold of home. Though her feeling for the people round was benevolent, intercourse with them she never sought; nor, with very few exceptions, ever experienced. And yet she knew them: knew their ways, their language, their family histories; she could hear of them with interest, and talk of them with detail, minute, graphic, and accurate; but WITH them, she rarely exchanged a word.”

A family portrait painted by Branwell. You can see where he painted himself out of the picture – taken at the Brontë Museum

Facts about Emily Brontë

Some interesting facts and stories about Emily are as follows:

Emily was good at art, as were her siblings Charlotte, Anne and Branwell. Emily was largely self-taught and learned to draw by copying images from manuals and popular prints of the day. There are 19 surviving illustrations created by Emily and these include a series of pen and ink sketches, some paintings, mainly water colours, a few pencil drawings, some engravings and a geometry exercise.

Picture caption: Emily’s paint box – taken at the Brontë Museum

Emily and her sisters all had portable writing desks. When opened, the lid and bottom formed one continuous sloped surface for writing. They closed up into rectangular cases not much larger than a shoebox. The girls used these desks to store their writing and keep other precious possessions. Emily found pens troublesome and this is apparent from the stained appearance of her writing slope and her ink blotted manuscripts. She dug the nib of her pen into the paper and cleaned it by dragging it along the page. Her blotting paper has holes in it from her hasty clearings of her nib.

Picture caption: Emily’s portable writing desk – taken at the Brontë Museum

Emily was a dog lover and owned a large animal named Keeper. Keeper’s collar is on display at the Brontë Museum in Yorkshire. There is an interesting story told about Emily and her relationship with Keeper: When Keeper first arrived at the parsonage, the dog had a habit of going upstairs and jumping on the bed and stretching out on the clean bedspreads for his naps. Emily cured him of this habit by beating him about the eyes until he was almost blind from the swelling. She then led him into the kitchen and tended to his wounds herself.

Emily featured dogs in her novel, Wuthering Heights. In one instance, Hareton Earnshaw hangs a litter of puppies from a chair back. This was a normal way to kill unwanted dogs on a working farm at this time.  Heathcliff also hangs Isabella’s springer, named Fanny, by a handkerchief after they elope together. The dog almost dies as a result.

Emily and her sister, Anne, created an imaginary world called Gondal, a sprawling imaginary island located in the Pacific Ocean that was led by women. The two ladies wrote long poems that described Gondal’s dynasties and political battles. The poems by Emily that were included in the combined poetry book she published with Charlotte and Anne were based on Gondal, but were amended to remove the references to this world and its women-led aspects.

Emily had to pay to have her novel Wuthering Heights published in December 1847 by Thomas Cautley Newby. It appeared as a double volume with Anne’s Agnes Grey and the pair had to pay the publisher £50.

About Robbie Cheadle

Picture caption: Robbie Cheadle author photograph

South African author, photographer, and artist, Robbie Cheadle, has written and illustrated seventeen children’s books, illustrated a further three children’s books, written and illustrated four poetry books and written and illustrated one celebration of cake and fondant art book with recipes. Her work has also appeared in poetry and short story anthologies.

Robbie also has two novels and a collection of short stories published under the name of Roberta Eaton Cheadle and has horror, paranormal, and fantasy short stories featured in several anthologies under this name.

You can find Robbie Cheadle’s artwork, fondant and cake artwork, and all her books on her website here: https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Social Media Links

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle
TSL Publications: https://tslbooks.uk/product-tag/robbie-cheadle/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Robbie-Cheadle/author/B01N9J62GQ
Unsplash profile: https://unsplash.com/@r_cheadle

45 respuestas a «Classic Books & Authors – The Bronte Family: Emily Brontë»

  1. Avatar de thomasstigwikman

    That was a lot of interesting information about Emily Brontë. It is good that she was a dog lover and owned a large animal named Keeper, but I think the way she treated the dog was awful. People could be really cruel to dogs back then.

    Le gusta a 1 persona

    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Thomas, you are right. I think the Bronte’s were a very weird family. I don’t think any of them were very nice.

      Le gusta a 2 personas

  2. Avatar de lyndhurstlaura

    There was also the incident when Keeper got in with a pack of feral dogs in the village. Emily waded in to extract him, getting bitten in the process. She calmly took him home, then heated a poker in the fire and cauterised the wound on her arm. Hard doesn’t cover it …

    Le gusta a 1 persona

    1. Avatar de robbiesinspiration

      They suffered a lot of loss as children and their father was extremely demanding. I am fascinated by the Bronte’s

      Le gusta a 1 persona

      1. Avatar de lyndhurstlaura

        They’re a very interesting family. 🙂

        Le gusta a 1 persona

      2. Avatar de robbiesinspiration

        Yes, they were very unique

        Le gusta a 1 persona

  3. Avatar de T. W. Dittmer

    Thank you for this fascinating information about the Brontes, Robbie. You are wonderful to share it with us.

    Me gusta

  4. Avatar de Tofino Photography

    I was shocked to hear Emily beat «Keeper» about the eyes so viciously. The poor thing just didn’t know any better. How could «Keeper» be expected to know the house rules?

    I guess cruelty was more common in those days.

    Me gusta

  5. Avatar de Michael Sammut
    Michael Sammut

    That is a new thing I learned about Emily Bronte. They where a weird, tough family indeed.

    Me gusta

  6. Avatar de Rosie Amber

    Thank you Robbie, I didn’t know any of this.

    Me gusta

  7. Avatar de Dave Astor

    A post filled with fascinating information, Robbie! (The cruelty to dogs was very upsetting. 😦 )

    Le gusta a 1 persona

    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Dave, I agree that Emily’s treatment of Keeper was very weird. The Bronte’s were a very strange family but it did produce some brilliance.

      Le gusta a 1 persona

      1. Avatar de Dave Astor

        Very true, Robbie!

        Me gusta

    2. Avatar de Liz Gauffreau

      I’m with you, Dave, on the cruelty to dogs.

      Le gusta a 1 persona

      1. Avatar de Dave Astor

        Suddenly, Liz, I’m a bit less of an Emily Bronte fan. 😦

        Le gusta a 1 persona

      2. Avatar de Liz Gauffreau

        I had the same thought, Dave!! 😟

        Le gusta a 2 personas

      3. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

        She didn’t really know any better. Patrick Brontë was a very strange man. By today’s standards, he abused his children, both mentally and to an extent physically. The lived on a died of vegetables and dairy products and had frail health due to a poor diet. That’s why they all died young.

        Le gusta a 2 personas

      4. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

        💔

        Le gusta a 1 persona

      5. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

        💞

        Le gusta a 2 personas

  8. Avatar de marianbeaman6811bce9e7
    marianbeaman6811bce9e7

    Anything about the Bronte’s fascinates me and seeing the writing desk is also enlightening. Our PBS station sometimes features the Brontes; I always tune in. Thanks, Robbie!

    Me gusta

    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Marian, the Bronte’s fascinate me too. I’m glad we have this common interest 💚

      Me gusta

  9. Avatar de Sue Dreamwalker

    Thank you Robbie for gathering all of those interesting facts about the Bronte family… Wuthering Heights a classic I have read over, along with visiting the museum in Yorkshire, and also saw her grave in Yorkshire on a Yorkshire tour we once did, which took in the sights of and history of the Bronte sisters.. I think another of her sisters, Anne, is buried in Scarborough. Both were very young when they died.. To become accomplished authors of novels in their day, was huge… Thank you for sharing the history and and the lovely photos of memorabilia xxx

    Me gusta

    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Sue, it is my great pleasure to share this information. I have been fascinated by the Bronte’s since I first read Jane Eyre at the age of 11. Thank you.

      Le gusta a 1 persona

      1. Avatar de Sue Dreamwalker

        Jane Eyre at 11… wow.. I think I must have been in my late teens when I read that one xx

        Me gusta

  10. Avatar de D.L. Finn, Author
    D.L. Finn, Author

    Love the history, Robbie. Horrible how animals used to be treated.

    Me gusta

    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Hi Denise, I think Emily was a very odd and frustrated woman. Still, it led to a controversial and brilliant gothic novel. Given she had no experience with men, Heathcliff and Cathy were real products of female romantic imagination.

      Le gusta a 1 persona

  11. Avatar de Author Jan Sikes

    Thanks for the detailed look into the life of Emily Bronte, Robbie!

    Me gusta

    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      My pleasure, Jan. A very strange and mixed up woman.

      Le gusta a 1 persona

      1. Avatar de Author Jan Sikes

        But aren’t we all, in some way or another? 🙂

        Me gusta

  12. Avatar de Liz Gauffreau

    Fascinating details about Emily Bronte’s life!

    Me gusta

    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Yes, a weird life. Thanks, Liz

      Le gusta a 1 persona

      1. Avatar de Liz Gauffreau

        You’re welcome, Robbie.

        Me gusta

  13. Avatar de Teagan Riordain Geneviene

    Robbie, you showed a very unexpected side of Emily Bronte with the dog episode. Good grief.

    I hope you can get some rest this weekend. Feel better soon. Hugs.

    Me gusta

    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Thank you, Teagan. I’m doing better already. I’m very determined just like you.

      Me gusta

  14. Avatar de Resa

    Thank you, Robbie!

    Gee, the dog thing bothers me, but then again do many cat stories from the past.

    I found this most interesting, but have lost some heart about these sisters. It’s the dog thing.

    Me gusta

    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Sorry, Resa, but they were a very odd and mixed up family. I will be posting a review of a fascinating book I read about them (I’ve read several because the family fascinates me so much) and it was very revealing. It was after reading this book I decided to do a pilgrimage to Haworth.

      Le gusta a 1 persona

      1. Avatar de Resa

        Robbie,
        This is fascinating! I look forward to what you write about it all!

        Me gusta

  15. Avatar de Darlene

    Like everyone else, the treatment of her dog puts me off. There was obviously a mean streak in her. I’ve been to their house in Haworth. Fascinating.

    Me gusta

    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      Yes, Darlene. She was very frustrated with her life I think. After all, writing about lives is not the same as living life.

      Le gusta a 1 persona

  16. Avatar de Prior...

    Interesting to learn about the unexpected side of Emily Bronte and like others, surprised by the dog treatment.

    Me gusta

  17. Avatar de Jennie

    The fact that Emily was so keen on understanding people without having talked to or interacted with them is incredible.

    Me gusta

    1. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

      She was a strange and isolated person and, it would seem, very frustrated by her life. Very sad but she did produce a riveting story.

      Le gusta a 1 persona

      1. Avatar de Jennie

        I don’t think anyone will ever know if she was truly happy.

        Me gusta

      2. Avatar de robertawrites235681907

        🙏💛

        Me gusta

  18. Avatar de Teri Polen

    I liked Emily until I learned how she treated her dog. That’s just horrible.

    Me gusta

Replica a Rosie Amber Cancelar la respuesta