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moonlightcupofcocoa 's review for:
The Brontë Family: Sibling Rivalry and a Burial in Paradise
by Catherine Rayner
emotional
informative
medium-paced
First things first, special thank you to Pen and Sword and Netgalley for the advance copy! As always, all opinions shared below are 100% my own.
While the 'The Brontë Family: Sibling Rivalry and a Burial in Paradise' by Catherine Rayner takes the reader through the lives of the Brontë, this book is less of a biography and more of a detailed psychological analysis of each member of the Brontë family, from their parents to the writers themselves. The book examines the early influences on each of their lives, the earliest losses and even the birth order, and how those continued to impact the relationships between the siblings all their lives. Balancing modern studies with historical context, we get a much more accurate view of each of them from birth to death.
There is a special focus on the youngest Brontë, Anne. Even though I have yet to read any of the siblings' works, I have long been aware that Anne Brontë is only relatively recently getting the attention she deserves in the literary world. Reading the book, I was a bit surprised to find out that this wasn't by chance, but may have been orchestrated by her very own sister! It was shocking to me to find out that even on her death bed, and beyond, her life was being dictated by her family.
While the displayed events and analysis puts a special focus on the strained relationship between Charlotte and Anne, I didn't think it was done with cruelty. Yes, there is much to blame Charlotte for, but the author does a good job also bringing up reasons and excuses for the behaviour. Something I, as someone being introduced to the Brontës for the first time, really appreciated.
All in all, this is an enlightening read that I recommend to anyone interested to learn more about the authors behind the books. Just from paragraphs and snippets shared in this book, one can see the influences impacting every word. I am now more excited than ever to read their novels!
You can also find me on: MoonlightCupOfCocoa (@moonlightcocoa)
While the 'The Brontë Family: Sibling Rivalry and a Burial in Paradise' by Catherine Rayner takes the reader through the lives of the Brontë, this book is less of a biography and more of a detailed psychological analysis of each member of the Brontë family, from their parents to the writers themselves. The book examines the early influences on each of their lives, the earliest losses and even the birth order, and how those continued to impact the relationships between the siblings all their lives. Balancing modern studies with historical context, we get a much more accurate view of each of them from birth to death.
There is a special focus on the youngest Brontë, Anne. Even though I have yet to read any of the siblings' works, I have long been aware that Anne Brontë is only relatively recently getting the attention she deserves in the literary world. Reading the book, I was a bit surprised to find out that this wasn't by chance, but may have been orchestrated by her very own sister! It was shocking to me to find out that even on her death bed, and beyond, her life was being dictated by her family.
While the displayed events and analysis puts a special focus on the strained relationship between Charlotte and Anne, I didn't think it was done with cruelty. Yes, there is much to blame Charlotte for, but the author does a good job also bringing up reasons and excuses for the behaviour. Something I, as someone being introduced to the Brontës for the first time, really appreciated.
All in all, this is an enlightening read that I recommend to anyone interested to learn more about the authors behind the books. Just from paragraphs and snippets shared in this book, one can see the influences impacting every word. I am now more excited than ever to read their novels!
You can also find me on: MoonlightCupOfCocoa (@moonlightcocoa)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Alcohol