Hey Everyone!!
EEEK – ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Emily Bronte made November a literary hurricane!!
Given its chapters thundered amoral desire, scenes roared manipulation, and characters flickered betrayal, ‘Wuthering’ was without doubt a squally read!! Since the nineteenth century, no wonder it’s been a whirlwind success!!
Having put our hood on nevertheless, we turn from our windswept farmhouse, hike down our gusty English hillside, and trudge our rain-beaten footpath across a plain to a battered stone signpost where in any direction—despite weather conditions—our December authoress had consented to meet us!!
Whether we head right or left nonetheless, a shadowy mansion towers on a dim horizon:
To our right, beneath grumbling clouds, lays Wildfell Hall where the authoress would introduce us to widow ‘Helen Graham’ (her assumed name) and her young son who relocated to the vacant hall for a secluded life away from a dark past which locals have already begun put forth conclusions about. To our left, however, stands Wellwood House where we’d be introduced to Agnes, the daughter of a poor minister, who works there as a governess (a resident grade-school teacher for a wealthy household) and endures isolation, oppression, and abuse to reduce financial hardship for her family.
Of the two novels described above, the former is ‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’ and the later is ‘Agnes Grey’ (published in 1848 and 1847, respectively). Both works nevertheless were penned by our next authoress (and third/final sister of our Bronte literary series), Anne Bronte!!
Similar to her older sisters’ ‘Currer Bell’ (Charlotte) and ‘Ellis Bell’ (Emily), Anne employed a masculine pseudonym (‘Acton Bell’) for the earlier editions of her works which veiled her gender and preserved her initials. Hushed yet hardworking, Ms. Bronte had made few friends throughout her twenty-nine years—which included a few years at a boarding school—and instead found companionship in Emily who she’d penned poems, fantasy worlds, and her first novel alongside. Beginning in her late-teens nonetheless, she’d achieved work as a governess but was time-and-again subjected to the aforementioned isolation, oppression, and abuse of which ‘Agnes Gray’ was based. Unfortunately however, while visiting Scarborough (North Yorkshire, England) in 1849, she died of consumption (tuberculosis), and because of Charlotte’s decision to “Lay the flower where it had fallen”, Anne was buried there and became the only Bronte to rest outside the family plot in Haworth (West Yorkshire, England).
Now, after reading the mouth-gaping ‘Wuthering Heights’, it may seem natural to delve beneath the covers of ‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’ given its martial betrayal, debauchery, and scandal. Except for a few reasons, I’ve gravitated toward ‘Agnes Gray’. First, in order to pay tribute to an authoress whose life/work seems overshadowed by her sisters’ greater literary popularity despite an initial novel with resonance and substance which draws public consciousness to the plight of less fortunate—yet educated—women of the times who—without a husband or connections—had little prospect of a prosperous existence. In fact, twenty years after ‘Agnes Grey’s’ original publication, Lady Amberley (an influential activist of the day), recommended the novel to families with, or seeking, a governess, which is an exemple of literary impact I’m drawn to. Second, I choose ‘Grey’ because during this time of year when tradition persuades us to cuddle near a fireplace with our loved-ones, sip eggnog, and rip packaging off presents, my heart drifts toward individuals without families, presents, and/or warm plates. My apologies, folks—I don’t mean to dampen our holiday spirit, except as we close-out 2016, I’m encouraging us to remain conscious, appreciative, and prayerful (and am recommending a literary masterpiece which reflects this).
So with that, I’ve reached the six-hundred word mark (and my apologies!! lol), and indeed—I still know the difference between a web-post and a novel (..well, I thought I had! Ha!!)! Nevertheless, if you seek a conscious, impact-driven, and humanizing read for December, stop-by either your bookshelf or local library, snag ‘Agnes Grey’ by Anne Bronte, and read it with me!!
Many thanks, folks, and we’ll ttys!!
Phil
P.S. – Happy Birthday Lucy Maud Montgomery (November 30th, 1874), authoress of the ‘Anne of Green Gables’ novels!!