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| Random House UK Transworld Publishers Doubleday November 2014 |
In 1848, Branwell Bronte returns to the
parsonage at Howarth after yet another failed attempt at a career. He is full of self
pity, hindered by crippling doubts and struggling with mental illness, he is
his own worst enemy, and yet, glimpses of his tortured genius can still be seen
in this fictional account of the last year of his life. The author has done a
commendable job of bringing Branwell to life and has, with some sympathy,
allowed his voice to be heard. Time and place is captured really well, and
there is a definite sense of the world changing around him and as society moved
forward, Branwell was inevitably left floundering in the wake of his more successful
and fascinating sisters.
There's something intriguing
about the Bronte family which continues, long after their deaths, to perplex
and enthral. Anyone who has ever visited the Bronte parsonage in Howarth will
have stopped to wonder at the way in which the harsh and often brutal landscape
of the Yorkshire moors shaped all their personalities to such an extent that
the very essence of them still lingers in the shadows, and you half expect to
catch a glimpse of them sitting at table, pens poised at the ready. Somehow, there's
a huge sense of disappointment that lingers around Branwell Bronte, as all too
often he stands lost in the shadow of his more charismatic sisters. However, that
doesn't mean that he missed out on his share of genius, he was simply troubled
by circumstances, lack of ambition and a lingering sense of not quite knowing
his place in the world.
Having a story based on one of
the lesser known Bronte siblings is an inspired choice of historical fiction, and
is well worth a read if you are as intrigued by this enigmatic family as I am.
~***~
You can read more about the Bronte's here
In the footsteps of the Brontes
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You can read more about the Bronte's here
In the footsteps of the Brontes
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©Digital Images - John D Barton
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Love the cover of this book! There's a Bronte gap in my reading, having really not liked Wuthering Heights, I've avoided their books since. Maybe reading about the family in Sanctuary would inspire me to try again?
ReplyDeleteHi Stephanie. I agree the cover is very evocative. And very similar to how it looks in 'real life'. I loved Wuthering Heights but found Jane Eyre easier to read. Hope you decide to give Sanctuary a try :)
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