August 12, 2013

The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Bronte

Wow...loved this book based on the great novelist Charlotte Bronte!

There is just something different about reading someone's life story in novel form, rather then as a biography. The people just seem to come alive in a well written novel.

And this was a well written novel as well as a captivating read that I didn't want to put down.

Charlotte's book 'Jane Eyre' is one of my all time favorites. I also loved Anne's book 'Anges Grey' as well as Emily's book 'Wuthering Heights,' but I have to admit I didn't know much about the lives of these lovely sisters.

But now that's changed.

In this novel...

I found myself so excited for Charlotte and her sisters as they find out their writings are going to be accepted for publication.

Then felt heart-broken as one tragedy after the other befalls this family.

Charlotte was born the third child of six to her Irish clergyman father, Patrick, and his English wife, Maria. Their six children consisted of sisters Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Emily, Anne and a brother Branwell.

This book takes your back to the village of Haworth, England, during the mid 1800's, and immerses you into the lives of this family.

Throughout this novel you are carried through their ups and downs. From losing their mother at a young age, to the older sisters sudden passings, to the three younger daughters successes, and their brothers descent into drugs and alcohol.

But among all these tragedies is a extraordinary love story between Charlotte and their fathers curate, Arthur Bell Nicholls. A relationship which started out with a distaste, but through the years turned into a great love. It was truly beautiful to read.

I loved that the author, Syrie James, kept close to the truth about this family.

She says here:

 "The novel is based almost entirely on fact. All the details of Charlotte's family life, her experiences at school, her friendship with Ellen, her feelings for Monsieur Heger, the evolution of her writing career, and her relationship with her publisher, George Smith, are all true and based on information from her letters and biographies."

If you are a fan of the Bronte sisters you will thoroughly enjoy this novel, I certainly did!


Buy it HERE on Amazon



12 comments:

  1. This is very interesting! I've heard of " Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte. It must have really been fascinating to learn about the author... and even more to be " immersed into the lives of (her) family". This type of reading experience is unique! Thank you for sharing, Cathy. :) Enjoyed reading this post. And enjoyed visiting your blog even more! Such loveliness!! From the design to the posts. :) Hats off to you for supporting the ministry 'Compassion'. Very honorable. Sincere blessings to you!!

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    1. Thanks for your kind words Ganise! I really did enjoyed this book.

      Charlotte Bronte's 'Jane Eyre' was such a beautiful novel too, you should check it out. : )

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  2. Hello! I'm here via Create with Joy (#193) - I do love the writings of these ladies and will have to now check for this book about them! Thank You for sharing - ;-}
    Lynden

    http://aneleganttouch-lynden.blogspot.com
    https://www.facebook.com/Lynden.AnElegantTouch
    www.CookieLee.biz/LyndenBlossom

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    1. Hi Lynden, thanks for stopping by! Hope you get a chance to read it.

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  3. This sounds great! I dont know anything about the Bronte sisters beyond their writing

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    1. I didn't know much either and found it so interesting to see how a lot of their real lives were incorporated into their novels.

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  4. I'm not so great at reading biographies, so this looks like the perfect way to get one somewhat in my reading. :) It sounds great! I'm really hoping to read Jane Eyre soon, too.

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    1. Reading her biography in novel form was easier to read and a lot more emotional. You feel for her and her family in a way you wouldn't in a regular bio. Hope you enjoy it!

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  5. I read recently that it's now thought that Charlotte probably died of hyperemesis gravidarum during her first pregnancy. That's basically morning sickness so severe that it leads to dehydration and malnourishment and sometimes death. It's essentially what Kate, Duchess of Windsor, had when she was hospitalized during her pregnancy with Prince George. I was wondering if the novel included that?

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    1. The book is written as a diary so it ends on a good note, but the author's afterward tells of Charlotte's death from her first pregnancy.

      So sad after all she went through and lost in her life. To think if she had lived in our time, how she would have been able to be treated and deliver a healthy baby.

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  6. I love this kind of book. It's so fun to be enjoying a novel but know you're learning some history at the same time! :) Thanks for linking up with Booknificent Thursday! Looking forward to seeing what you’ve got this week!
    Tina from mommynificent.com

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Feel free to leave your own thoughts in the comments. I try to respond to all of them by the end of the week. : )