Emily Brontė (British Library Writers' Lives Series) - Hardcover

Barnard, Robert

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195216563 ISBN 13: 9780195216561

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2000

Synopsis

Largely self-educated, Emily Bronte (1818-1848) was her father's favorite daughter and spent most of her life at the rectory in Haworth, on the edge of the Yorkshire moors. She lead a protected, uneventful existence, with almost no social contacts. Robert Barnard examines her insulated childhood, peculiarities, social boorishness, and aversion to relationships. He includes excerpts of Emily's lyrical poems of her twenties which presage the raw intensity of Wuthering Heights. Many aspects of her only novel are shaped by her own experiences, and the author traces the real-life counterparts of characters, landscape, and buildings. He draws extensively from critical sources varying from early reviews of Wuthering Heights to Gaskell's appraisal of Emily's "stern selfishness," to Juliet Barker's recent biography of the Bronte family.

About this title

About the Author:

Robert Barnard is the chairman of the Bronte Society and a recognized expert on the Brontes. He is the author of The Missing Bronte and A Short History of English Literature.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 9 Up-These volumes fill a real need for high-quality works of literary criticism and history. Without oversimplifying or writing down to their audience, the authors supply accurate information in concise presentations that are formatted attractively and supplemented by outstanding illustrative materials. A careful choice of authors assures readable content and clearly stated theses. For example, Barnard, a well-known mystery author, literary critic, and past chair of the Bront' Society, engagingly describes his subject's short life and enigmatic character, and, based on the latest research, raises fascinating questions about her writings, especially Wuthering Heights. Hebron, a manager of England's Wordsworth Trust, presents an equally compelling outline of his subject's long and often complicated poetic career. He covers the significant issues in Wordsworth's life and works with care and clarity, and provides a lucid explanation of the poet's profound influence both on his contemporaries and on later writers. The many attractive color and black-and-white illustrations include reproductions of original manuscripts from the British Library's rich collections. There are many other books of similar scope, but few put together the information so succinctly and attractively. Overall, excellent reference sources for research.
Starr E. Smith, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0195216563
• ISBN 13: 9780195216561
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 112