The Brontë Family Sibling Rivalry and a Burial in Paradise by Catherine Rayner


 This is a psychological study of the Brontes, which goes into forensic detail about how their family history, birth order, and sibling rivalry affected them. Catherine Raynor studies the myths surrounding them and explores why Anne’s work has been overshadowed by Charlotte’s and Emily’s. Being the youngest, I found the insights about birth order extremely interesting and I could identify with how this position in the family affected Anne.

However, Jane Eyre is one of my favourite novels and it’s unfortunately hard to like Charlotte after reading this book! Still, Raynor’s work is fascinating to any lover of the Brontes.

I received this free ebook from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Comments

Hels said…
I don't know much about rivalry betweening the surviving sisters, but I do know about the terrible losses they suffered early in life... especially their mother and their two sisters. Did reading and writing books help them deal with the struggles and with grief?
I read some Bronte books in school literature classes (early 1960s), but I don't remember how our teachers presented their struggles.
4:52 AM
Hels said…
The three Bronte girls faced tragedy and grief, and must have used their talents to live a liveable life. They escaped into books but I cannot tell if they did it individually or collectively. No matter! The Bronte sisters survived into adulthood and were brave enough to deal with subjects that nice young women wouldn’t have touched. I cannot even imagine dealing with domestic violence and depression in the 1950s, let alone the early 19th century.
11:14 PM
Viola said…
I got the impression from this book that the publication of their novels actually worsened their sibling rivalry! However, writing their novels was cathartic for them, especially when they used their own experiences.

The book concentrates on Anne to a large extent and how her work has been undermined due largely to Charlotte’s influence.
12:24 AM
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