The Bronte Sisters - Buy Everything Bronte Online From Books to Victorian Dress Patterns

Chances are that , if you are here, you already know something of the Bronte Sisters - how they published their novels under male pseudonyms in their attempt to gain status and acceptance in Victorian male dominated culture - how they struggled to maintain a happy home despite the tragic loss of their mother and two sisters - their father's eccentricities and neglect - their brother's violent outbursts due to his drug and alcohol addiction - the looming threat of poverty if they lost their father, Patrick.

Chances are that, if you are here, you already admire the Bronte Sister's talent and unique individuality - Charlotte's drive and determination, Emily's reclusive brilliance, and Anne's place as the third sister, the little sister, long suspected of being the only normal one of the bunch.

Their lives and their creations stand today, for many of us, as testaments to strength and individuality, as they lived and worked at the grey stone Parsonage at Haworth, in Yorkshire, England at the top of a hill overlooking a gritty industrial town; the house backing like a gateway between grim civilization and all its pressures and drudgery, to the wild and beautiful moors.

But, loving the Bronte Sisters isn't all bad weather, anorexia, and TB. Can't get your fill of those remarkable women? Then, this is the place for you - Everything Bronte, including links, and the opportunity to purchase Bronte books, biographies, movies, posters, Bronte-esque clothing and patterns. Check out travel information for a visit to Haworth. Watch the hilarious Bronte Sisters Power Dolls video and Kate Bush's haunting video where she seems to channel the enigmatic Emily and her singular novel Wuthering Hieghts.

So if you love the Bronte Siters, read on.

CHARLOTTE BRONTE - HER NOVELS, A POSTER, FILM ADAPTATIONS, AND A MOVIE CLIP FROM THE 1944 VERSION OF 'JANE EYRE.'

The 'Professor', Charlotte's first published novel. This story is based on Charlotte Bronte's experiences at a girls' school in Brussels where she and Emily went tol earn French in order to establish their own girls school at home in Haworth.Though the school never came to be, we are left with this wonderful novel, published after her death.

Shirley - Charlotee Bronte claimed that the main character was based on the character of Emily, Charlotte's sister and the writer of Wuthering Heights.

Villette - a lonely young English woman moves to a fictional country based on Belgium to teach at a girls' school. The writer George Elliot said that Villette was 'more wonderful than 'Jane Eyre'. Virginia Woolf claimed that Villette was Charlotte Bronte's finest novel

Stancliff Hotel is a novella set in the famous Bronte fantasy world of Angria. Charlotte's novella is notable for the male voice, humor, and racy slang.

A leather bound hardback copy of Jane Eyre, new or used. I don't know about you , but it is nice to have a good hardback copy of a favorite book. Paperback and trade paperback books just don't do it. And owning a favorite book, bound in leather, seems right.

The 1944 Hollywood film of Jane Eyre, which is my own favorite version. Starring Joan Fontaine as Jane, and Orson Wells as Mr. Rochester, this black and white film creates a somber mood. A young Elizabeth Taylor stars as Jane's childhood friend, a character said to be based on Charlotte's own older sister.

Trivia Note - Peggy Anne Garner played the part of the child Jane Eyre in the 1944 Hollywood version. (See film clip below) Garner later went on to play Francie Nolan in 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.'

Jane's friend, Helen Burns is played by a young Elizabeth Taylor. Helen's character was supposedly based on Charlotte Bronte's older sister, Maria, who died young.

EMILY BRONTE'S WUTHERING HEIGHTS, POETRY, FILM ADADPTATIONS, AND POSTER

When the Bronte sisters decided to write novels in order to earn income, Emily created Wuthering Heights, a novel of complex personal dynamics, passion, and revenge. Unappreciated in her time (she died shortly after publication) WH became a classic, the vivid novel that brought us the unforgettable characters, Kathy and Heathcliff.

1939 Wuthering Heights on DVD. The classic black and white film stars Merle Oberon as Cathy, and the great actor, Lawrence Olivier as Heathcliff. This version is a favorite with people who love old movies. The black and white format underscores the dramatic look of both interiors and exteriors. Also starring David Niven as Edgar Linton, and Geraldine Fitzgerald as his sister, Isabella. With Flora Robson as Nelly, and Leo G. Carroll as Joseph.

1992 Hollywood Wuthering Heights starring Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes. (DVD). Variety claims that, unlike the 1939 version, this version tells the complete story, but misses out on the dramatic atmosphere as well as the passion. Sinead O'Conner appears as a narrator and as Emily Bronte herself. The Onion claim that this is an interesting attempt, that does not live up to it's own ambitions.

ANNE BRONTE'S NOVELS

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall - Anne Bronte shocked Victorian readers with her frank portrayal of the precarious social position of women. A passionate tale of alcoholism, betrayal, and redemption.

Agnes Grey - The plight of educated, intelligent women in Victorian society is highlighted with the tale of Agnes Grey who takes a job as a governess. Ann may have used her own experiences as a governess as background for this novel.

The Life of Charlotte Bronte - The original biography of Charlotte Bronte by her friend, Mrs. Gaskell who created the mystique of Charlotte Bronte.Shortly after Charlotte's death, Patrick Bronte, Charlotte's father, asked Elizabeth Gaskell to write a biography of his famous daughter, and gave her notes, letters, and other evidence of Charlotte's life. After the first edition was published, a hue and a cry went up among people, including Patrick, who demanded changes be made, as they were unhappy with the way they were presented. Mrs. Gaskell wrestled with her own memories of what Charlotte had told her which were often at war with Patrick's information.

Charlotte Bronte: A Passionate Life - The biographer, Lyndall Gordan contends that Charlotte was not the meek and mild mannered wimp portrayed by Mrs. Gaskell and points out Charlotte's feminist agenda as well as her attempts to underscore the plight of the poor, especially poor women in Victorian society.

One of the problems with writing a biography of Emily is that so little is actually known about her and what we do know comes from her sister Charlotte, and Charlotte's biographer, Elizabeth Gaskell. Charlotte destroyed most of Emily's papers, her journals, and notes shortly after her death.

A Chainless Soul - Katherine Frank's biography of Emily is aimed at the general reader and contains some imaginative speculation. Frank portrays Emily as a passionate, reclusive anorexic who struggled with the ability to control her own life.

Emily Bronte - Heretic Stevie Davies gives us the paradoxical nature of Emily, rereading her personality through her poems and novel, and suggests that Emily may have been a lesbian.

The Life and Private History of Emily Bronte Romer Wilson wrote this biography in 1928 based on Emily's poems and novel.

The Birth of Wuthering Heights: Emily Bronte at Work by Edward Chitham. A scholarly investigation into the novel's origins, locals, character, and chronology which raises questions about the integrity of the novel as we know it. Chitham suggests that significant changes were made between the original submission in 1846 and the publication in 1847.

The Life of Anne Bronte by Edward Chitham -The biographer uses recent research to redefine the life of Charlotte and Emily's often undervalued sister, Anne. The youngest member of the Bronte family, Anne was the last remaining sibling lost to tuberculosis and was the only sister buried outside of Hawath. Her books included socially significant looks at family dynamics, alcoholism, and the hardships placed on women facing life without the protection of a man.

Let's not forget Branwell, the drunken reprobate of a brother. Dress up, or make your favorite gentleman look like Branwell with this 1840's style dress coat pattern.