tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post7104268162885037162..comments2024-02-25T19:19:39.854+11:00Comments on I prefer reading: The Life of Charlotte Brontë - Elizabeth Gaskelllynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-20616081360186218752016-10-19T07:58:55.108+11:002016-10-19T07:58:55.108+11:00I think Patrick must have been a remarkable man to...I think Patrick must have been a remarkable man to have raised such a family. He acknowledged his eccentricities but I do think Mrs Gaskell could have asked him about some of the more outrageous stories before publishing the book.lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-80264139500593797942016-10-19T07:57:13.684+11:002016-10-19T07:57:13.684+11:00Tanya, I read Patricia Beer's book many years ...Tanya, I read Patricia Beer's book many years ago & I think I have a copy so must go back & look at that opening line again! I would definitely choose the money... I'll also read your blogpost, thank you.lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-75299138597842462132016-10-19T06:50:33.356+11:002016-10-19T06:50:33.356+11:00It sounds to me like Patrick got off lightly in th...It sounds to me like Patrick got off lightly in this book. The guides at the Haworth Parsonage are much harsher on his character, rightly so I think.Katrinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18138715309807238198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-40716613448079794292016-10-19T00:15:54.966+11:002016-10-19T00:15:54.966+11:00Thank you - I'm going to get hold of a copy im...Thank you - I'm going to get hold of a copy immediately! I've meant to read it for years, and never got round to it - in spite of always having that opening line of Reader, I Married Him by Patricia Beer in the back of my mind: 'There are probably many women, neither callous nor mercenary, who, presented with the alternatives of inheriting a fortune or marrying Branwell Bronte would unhesitatingly choose the money.' I wonder if other readers of your brilliant blog know and love Patricia Beer's study of the women characters of Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell and George Eliot - we had a post about it on ninevoices.wordpress.com back in December 2015 before I made the happy-making discovery of I Prefer Reading. <br />Tanya van Hasselthttp://ninevoices.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-26150419293669151772016-10-18T09:16:41.751+11:002016-10-18T09:16:41.751+11:00It was certainly the most influential biography of...It was certainly the most influential biography of Charlotte until probably the 1960s. While it was responsible for many of the myths about the family, it certainly changed the tone of the response to Charlotte & her novels.lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-42160463817140555682016-10-18T09:15:19.615+11:002016-10-18T09:15:19.615+11:00It begins almost like one of EG's novels, with...It begins almost like one of EG's novels, with the description of Haworth but really grabs the reader once Charlotte's own letters become part of the narrative. I really enjoyed rereading it after many years.lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-66993074281622704172016-10-18T09:13:51.511+11:002016-10-18T09:13:51.511+11:00It was a sensation in its day & it's still...It was a sensation in its day & it's still a very moving book to read. The libel just makes it more interesting!lynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04509400868331534237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-83838649263619440992016-10-18T05:32:30.399+11:002016-10-18T05:32:30.399+11:00I've had this book many years, and bow to your...I've had this book many years, and bow to your excellent summary of it and of Mrs Gaskell. I dipped into my copy yet again earlier this year and it stands the test of time - although of course there have been many different biographies of Charlotte and her family since Mrs Gaskell's version was published.Bovey Bellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13117332471600275100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-50431835454246371772016-10-18T04:46:48.038+11:002016-10-18T04:46:48.038+11:00I read this when I was into all-things-Bronte and ...I read this when I was into all-things-Bronte and I was expecting it to be rather pale in comparison to their works, but I ended up enjoying it a great deal. So readable! Enjoyed reading your thoughts on it: maybe I should reread....Buried In Printhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00808249065026802365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3020849054403226268.post-20727178557856613232016-10-18T02:59:00.093+11:002016-10-18T02:59:00.093+11:00This book sounds fascinating with its insights int...This book sounds fascinating with its insights into the life of Charlotte, and the author's friendship with her. And charges of libel to stir the pot.Terra https://www.blogger.com/profile/04396481049075747940noreply@blogger.com