By Tim Lambert
Her Early Life
Charlotte Brontë was a great writer of the early 19th century. Charlotte was born on 21 April 1816 at the parsonage in Market Street in Thornton near the rapidly growing town of Bradford. Her father was Reverend Patrick Brontë. Her mother was Maria. They had 6 children. However, two girls, Maria Brontë and Elizabeth Bronte died when they were children.
In the early 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was transforming life in Britain. In the north of England, industrial towns were booming. However, in 1820 Charlotte Brontë’s family moved to a moorland village called Haworth. Her mother died in 1821. Her mother’s sister, Elizabeth, moved to Yorkshire to look after the children.
In 1824 Charlotte Brontë and her sister Emily were sent to join two older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth at the Clergy Daughters School in Cowan Bridge in Lancashire.
However, in 1825, Maria and Elizabeth Brontë both died of tuberculosis. Charlotte and Emily Brontë returned home. Afterward, they were educated at home for some years. In 1831-32 Charlotte Brontë went to Margaret Wooler’s school near Dewsbury. Meanwhile, Charlotte loved writing and painting.
Charlotte the Writer
In 1835 Charlotte Brontë went to work at Wooler’s school as a teacher. She worked there till 1838. Then in 1839 Charlotte began working as a governess. However, in 1842 her aunt provided the money for her and her sister Emily to study in Brussels. Charlotte Brontë returned to Yorkshire in 1844. Then in 1846 Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë published some of their poems.
Charlotte Bronte wrote a story called Jane Eyre. It was published in 1847. Charlotte‘s second work Shirley, was published in 1848. The third book by Charlotte Brontë was Villette published in 1853.
In 1854 Charlotte Brontë married a man named Arthur Bell Nicholls. However, Charlotte died on 31 March 1855. She was only 38. Charlotte Brontë was buried in Haworth.
