Volume 2

by ELIZABETH CLEGHORN GASKELL

CHAPTER I.

Mr. Brontë afflicted with blindness, and relieved by a successful operation for cataract—Charlotte Brontë's first work of fiction, "The Professor"—She commences "Jane Eyre"—Circumstances attending its composition—Her ideas of a heroine—Her attachment to home—Haworth in December—A letter of confession and counsel.

CHAPTER II.

State of Charlotte Brontë's health at the commencement of 1847—Family trials—"Wuthering Heights" and "Agnes Grey" accepted by a publisher—"The Professor" rejected—Completion of "Jane Eyre", its reception and publication—The reviews of "Jane Eyre", and the author's comments on them—Her father's reception of the book—Public interest excited by "Jane Eyre"—Dedication of the second edition to Mr. Thackeray—Correspondence of Currer Bell with Mr. Lewes on "Jane Eyre"—Publication of "Wuthering Heights" and "Agnes Grey"—Miss Brontë's account of the authoress of "Wuthering Heights"—Domestic anxieties of the Brontë sisters—Currer Bell's correspondence with Mr. Lewes—Unhealthy state of Haworth—Charlotte Brontë on the revolutions of 1848—Her repudiation of authorship—Anne Brontë's second tale, "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall"—Misunderstanding as to the individuality of the three Bells, and its results—Currer and Acton Bell visit London—Charlotte Brontë's account of her visit—The Chapter Coffee

House—The Clergy Daughters' School at Casterton—Death of Branwell Brontë—Illness and death of Emily Brontë.

CHAPTER III.

The Quarterly Review on "Jane Eyre"—Severe illness of Anne Brontë—Her last verses—She is removed to Scarborough—Her last hours, and death and burial there—Charlotte's return to Haworth, and her loneliness.

CHAPTER IV.

Commencement and completion of "Shirley"—Originals of the characters, and circumstances under which it was written—Loss on railway shares—Letters to Mr. Lewes and other friends on "Shirley," and the reviews of it—Miss Brontë visits London, meets Mr. Thackeray, and makes the acquaintance of Miss Martineau—Her impressions of literary men.

CHAPTER V.

"Currer Bell" identified as Miss Brontë at Haworth and the vicinity—Her letter to Mr. Lewes on his review of "Shirley"—Solitude and heavy mental sadness and anxiety—She visits Sir J. and Lady Kay Shuttleworth—Her comments on critics, and remarks on Thackeray's "Pendennis" and Scott's "Suggestions on Female Education"—Opinions of "Shirley" by Yorkshire readers.

CHAPTER VI.

An unhealthy spring at Haworth—Miss Brontë's proposed visit to London—Her remarks on "The Leader"—Associations of her walks on the moors—Letter to an unknown admirer of her works—Incidents of her visit to London—Her impressions of a visit to Scotland—Her portrait, by Richmond—Anxiety about her father.

CHAPTER VII.

Visit to Sir J. and Lady Kay Shuttleworth—The biographer's impressions of Miss Brontë—Miss Brontë's account of her visit to the Lakes of Westmoreland—Her disinclination for acquaintance and visiting—Remarks on "Woman's Mission," Tennyson's "In Memoriam," etc.—Impressions of her visit to Scotland—Remarks on a review in the "Palladium."

CHAPTER VIII.

Intended republication of "Wuthering Heights" and "Agnes Grey"—Reaction after her visit to Scotland—Her first meeting with Mr. Lewes—Her opinion of Balzac and George Sand—A characteristic incident—Account of a friendly visit to Haworth Parsonage—Remarks on "The Roman," by Sydney Dobell, and on the character of Dr. Arnold—Letter to Mr. Dobell.

CHAPTER IX.

Miss Brontë's visit to Miss Martineau, and estimate of her hostess—Remarks on Mr. Ruskin's "Stones of Venice"—Preparations for another visit to London—Letter to Mr. Sydney Dobell: the moors in autumn—Mr. Thackeray's second lecture at Willis's Rooms, and sensation produced by Currer Bell's appearance there—Her account of her visit to London—She breakfasts with Mr. Rogers, visits the Great Exhibition, and sees Lord Westminster's pictures—Return to Haworth and letter thence—Her comment on Mr. Thackeray's Lecture—Counsel on development of character.