The Invention of Charlotte Bronte by Graham Watson

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Genre - Biography

Due to be published - June 6th 2024

Reading Time - Approximately 9 hours, 30 minutes

Arc received from The History Press May 2024

Blurb - A detailed biography regarding the events and occurrences of Charlotte Bronte's life which influenced the creation of Elizabeth's Gaskell's The Life of Charlotte Bronte. The troubles and tragedies of Charlotte's life are told through factual accounts and letters of Charlotte herself and those she knew and met, including Elizabeth Gaskell herself. 

My Reflections - The attention to detail in this work is admirable. Watson manages to provide a careful and painstaking record of facts in relation to Charlotte Bronte's relationships, her personal life and her time as a published author. In turn, the actualities, with shrewd observation, enable an impression of Charlotte's character to form. 

Those who have not read Elizabeth Gaskell's The Life of Charlotte Bronte will most likely wish to do so following on from reading this. This memoir highlights what a difficult task Gaskell had in writing her biography of Charlotte, and what a scandal it was viewed as once published, resulting in its ban. 

Watson skilfully and logically gives insights into the characters who had contact with Charlotte and into the events which intertwined their lives, some of which filtered through into her novels. Through extensive factual sources (ie letters predominantly, all referenced at the back) and in piecing them together, with such conscientiousness, he provides evidence which is exciting to read, (speaking as a Bronte fan). Where truth cannot be extracted, Watson gives plausible possibilities by surrounding them with veracity. 

Charlotte Bronte fans especially, will devour the descriptions of her appearance and manner, given through the accounts of others. Those familiar and unfamiliar with her life, and her work, will through Watson's writing, admire her brilliance and her determination, and feel compassion for her sufferings. 

There is much information to be read about Charlotte's father and husband here. Bronte fans with an appetite to learn more about these relationships will welcome the particulars surrounding these individuals and their impact on Charlotte's life. Watson does particularly well to convey, in interesting, additional detail in comparison to other work on the Brontes I have read, the character of Patrick Bronte. 

I highly recommend this book to Bronte, and in particular, Charlotte Bronte fans, and those interested in learning more about this talented woman's life of hardships, which gave rise to Elizabeth Gaskell's notorious biographical work, and in turn, the legend of the remarkable author of the semi autobiographical masterpiece, and equally if not more notorious, Jane Eyre. 

A thoroughly riveting read. 

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