The book "Mother of the Brontes" is a biography of Maria Branwell,
mother of the most gifted literary siblings the world has ever
known. Sharon Wright has taken a giant step to present before the readers
a literary piece that's worth reading. Author's real triumph lies in bringing
out this master piece as a 200th Anniversary special. The book will be most
interesting for those eager to read and make a career in Literature.
The book is divided into 9 chapters with foreword,
epilogue, acknowledgement, appendix, bibliography and index. The title of the
each chapter is quite befitting and it holds the essence of the whole chapter.
Authors has painstakingly written the social, political, Economical as well as
the literary scene of the times. Readers will be happy to note that Maria
is the contemporary of Jane Austen.
The book carries the enjoyable descriptions of
Penzance, Georgian Architecture, Bran well Empire, clotted cream to name a
few. I quote from page 9 " Unusually for the time, Methodists were
keen to let women in on the act. Families such as Branwell educated their
daughters as well as their sons." This point puts forth the initiations
for women's education has started at that time itself. We all are grateful for
Branwell's for giving us many literary figures.
For Charlotte and Emily the music came
from their grandfather, I Quote from page 24 "This talent may have
included Music. Maria was "possessing more than the ordinary talents,
which she inherited from her father...." while Mr Branwell, the father,
according to his descendants account, was a man of musical talent.'' Lilian
Oldham states that he played the violin in the parlour at home. This
inheritance may explain Emily Bronte's ability as a pianist, playing with
precision and brilliancy according to Ellen Nussey."
The book unfolds many incidences with the
reminiscences of Ellen Nussey and Elizabeth Gaskell. The Author's narration
also captures the impact of French Revolution, Britain's war, family
scandal in the life of Maria Branwell.
In the Victorian times, the place of honour in the
earliest period was given to Mrs. Gaskell's Life of Charlotte Bronte.
Likewise now Sharon Wright's Mother of the Brontes deserves a place of
honour.
A brief review. I wish it were a little longer.
ReplyDeleteNOTED sir. Here after I will try to write a bit longer reviews. Thank you.
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