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Charlotte
Charlotte Bronte, who dazzled the world with some of literature's most vital and richly drawn characters, spent her brief but extraordinary life in search of love. She eventually found it with Arthur Bell, a reserved yet passionate Irishman. After marrying, the pair honeymooned in Ireland - a glimmer of happiness in a life shadowed by tragedy.
That moment of joy was destined to be short-lived however, as Bronte died just nine months into their marriage. Her genius, and the aura of mystery surrounding her, meant she'd been mythologised even within her own lifetime - a process which only intensified after her death. Observed through the eyes of Mary Nicholls - who encountered Charlotte on that fateful journey to Ireland, and who went on to wed her widower Arthur - Charlotte is a story of three lives irrevocably intertwined. Bound by passion and obsession, friendship and loss, loyalty and deception - this a story of Bronte's short but pivotal time in Ireland as never before told.
Martina Devlin's enthralling new novel Charlotte weaves back and forth through Charlotte's life, reflecting on the myths built around her by those who knew her, those who thought they knew her, and those who longed to know her. Above all, this is a story of who creates it, who lives it, who owns it.
That moment of joy was destined to be short-lived however, as Bronte died just nine months into their marriage. Her genius, and the aura of mystery surrounding her, meant she'd been mythologised even within her own lifetime - a process which only intensified after her death. Observed through the eyes of Mary Nicholls - who encountered Charlotte on that fateful journey to Ireland, and who went on to wed her widower Arthur - Charlotte is a story of three lives irrevocably intertwined. Bound by passion and obsession, friendship and loss, loyalty and deception - this a story of Bronte's short but pivotal time in Ireland as never before told.
Martina Devlin's enthralling new novel Charlotte weaves back and forth through Charlotte's life, reflecting on the myths built around her by those who knew her, those who thought they knew her, and those who longed to know her. Above all, this is a story of who creates it, who lives it, who owns it.
340 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2025
25 people are currently reading
171 people want to read
About the author
Martina Devlin
15 books35 followersMartina Devlin is an Irish novelist and journalist. She lives in Dublin with her husband David and their cat Chekhov - the latter snoozes at her feet and keeps her company while she writes. It's all a far cry from her Fleet Street days, when she went to Parkhurst (a maximum security prison) to meet gangland leader Reggie Kray, was shown how to do The Twist by the maestro Chubby Checker, and kept watch while Anthony Burgess of 'A Clockwork Orange' filled his pockets with all the uneaten cakes at their interview over afternoon tea. She has had nine books published, beginning in 2000. Her work has won a number of prizes including the Royal Society of Literature's VS Pritchett Prize and a Hennessy Literary Award, and she was twice shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards. A current affairs commentator for the Irish Independent, Martina has been named columnist of the year by the National Newspapers of Ireland. She is vice-chairperson of the Irish Writers Centre, and has a certificate as a chartered director from the Institute of Directors. But none of that impresses Chekhov the cat.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 7, 2025
As I have loved all the novels written by the Brontë sisters (I also visited the Haworth museum and village), I was eager to read this novel. I enjoyed it very much. However, I found the part only evoking Charlotte through memories, objects, letters and belongings, extremely fascinating and masterfully done. I could feel Charlotte's ghost roaming through Arthur's and Mary's psyche.
Also, the concept of collecting for a museum really raises questions and I found this topic rather thought provoking. Indeed, I really loved visiting the museum, looking, imagining Charlotte (with her family) living there. Mary thought differently. She felt that exposing such personal objects lead to the unhealthy sensation of voyeurism. An interesting thought....
A beautifully written novel about a genial writer.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
Also, the concept of collecting for a museum really raises questions and I found this topic rather thought provoking. Indeed, I really loved visiting the museum, looking, imagining Charlotte (with her family) living there. Mary thought differently. She felt that exposing such personal objects lead to the unhealthy sensation of voyeurism. An interesting thought....
A beautifully written novel about a genial writer.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.
July 13, 2025
Why I love the Bronte sisters and their story, this unfortunately didn't work for me. The story itself wasn't the issue - while it was grim, it was certainly intriguing. But I just couldn't do with the writing. The writing style wasn't evoking any emotion for me nor did it make me feel like I wanted to keep reading.
Thank you for netgalley for providing me with this ARC, I unfortunately can only give 2,5 stars at it took me forever to get through and put me in a immense reading slump.
Thank you for netgalley for providing me with this ARC, I unfortunately can only give 2,5 stars at it took me forever to get through and put me in a immense reading slump.
September 12, 2024
Charlotte by Martina Devlin publishes today, September 12th 2024, with Lilliput Press and is described by Emily Hourican, author of The Guinness Girls, as ‘elegant and sophisticated but also completely gripping’.
The writing of the Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne, is internationally recognised in literary circles as being both powerful and quite evocative. With strong female protagonists, and ofttimes a gothic element, they explored the complexities of human emotions while always keeping a well-observed eye on the societal and cultural standards of the time. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë are three of their most recognised works.
In Charlotte, Martina Devlin explores the later life of Charlotte Brontë, narrated by Mary Nicholls, before her tragic death at just thirty-eight years old. Mary Nicholls was the cousin, and later wife, of Arthur Bell Nicholls who was briefly married to Charlotte. Intertwining the lives of these three individuals over different time periods, an incredible story presents itself of a woman whose influence stretched far beyond her death, especially on the lives of those closest to her.
Mary Nicholls grew up alongside her cousin Arthur Bell Nicholls and her mother always expected a marriage between the two, which was seemingly acceptable behaviour at that time. But one day a letter arrived to their home in Banagher, Co. Offaly, informing them that Arthur was arriving back for a visit with his new wife. Arthur had studied at Trinity College Dublin and had been working in the position of curate at Haworth, home to the Anglican minister Patrick Brontë and his children, one of whom was Charlotte. Over a period of time Arthur and Charlotte became more closely acquainted with each other, eventually marrying in 1854, followed by a honeymoon in Wales and Ireland.
“I knew her father Patrick was an Irishman, as was her husband Arthur Bell Nicholls – but I was surprised to discover that he brought her to Ireland on their honeymoon in 1854. Arthur, who was Patrick’s curate in Haworth, was proud of his homeland and keen to share its attractions with his famous novelist wife.” – Martina Devlin, Books Ireland Magazine
Martina Devlin states from the outset that Charlotte is a blend of fact and fiction but, as the story weaves its way back and forth across the years, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the two. This is completely attributed to the seamlessness of Martina Devlin’s narrative style and the amount of research that she clearly undertook before embracing the challenge of writing such an extraordinary tale.
When Charlotte arrived to the home of Mary Nicholls in Ireland, she was a breath of fresh air. Mary was enthralled by the manner in which she conveyed herself and with the views she held. Charlotte and her sisters were not stereotypical of that time, tackling the patriarchy and the injustice against women in society through their written word. Mary became quite infatuated with Charlotte and a bond sprang up between the two, with Charlotte treating Mary as a confidante, trusting her with her inner thoughts and secrets.
When Charlotte returned to her new married life in Yorkshire, her time was to be short, but her legacy lived on. Arthur carried a very deep love for Charlotte and felt her loss for many years but still remained at Haworth to look after Patrick Brontë until after his death. Arthur returned to Ireland, with the contents of the parsonage, and married Mary but he still carrying a torch for his lost love. Mary recounts the time she spent with Charlotte, while also giving us an insight into her married relationship in later years, one that struggled to survive in the shadow of its predecessor.
The legacy of Charlotte and her sisters still lives on today, but in the 1800s following the demise of all three, there was a sense of the mystical about them, with huge interest in any memorabilia associated with them. Martina Devlin imagines Mary Nicholls as the keeper of secrets and how her life must have been impacted by being the wife of Arthur Bell Nicholls, widower of Charlotte Brontë. In writing Charlotte from Mary’s perspective, we can imagine what Charlotte’s time in Ireland was like and the lasting impact her presence had on those left behind.
Charlotte is a striking interpretation of a period of time in the life of this iconic writer. With intriguing insights and alternate perspectives, Martina Devlin captures the person, the passion and the strength of Charlotte Brontë from a unique point of view. A captivating tale, Charlotte draws the reader into the world of its characters and is a stunning and compelling biographical fiction novel.
The writing of the Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne, is internationally recognised in literary circles as being both powerful and quite evocative. With strong female protagonists, and ofttimes a gothic element, they explored the complexities of human emotions while always keeping a well-observed eye on the societal and cultural standards of the time. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë are three of their most recognised works.
In Charlotte, Martina Devlin explores the later life of Charlotte Brontë, narrated by Mary Nicholls, before her tragic death at just thirty-eight years old. Mary Nicholls was the cousin, and later wife, of Arthur Bell Nicholls who was briefly married to Charlotte. Intertwining the lives of these three individuals over different time periods, an incredible story presents itself of a woman whose influence stretched far beyond her death, especially on the lives of those closest to her.
Mary Nicholls grew up alongside her cousin Arthur Bell Nicholls and her mother always expected a marriage between the two, which was seemingly acceptable behaviour at that time. But one day a letter arrived to their home in Banagher, Co. Offaly, informing them that Arthur was arriving back for a visit with his new wife. Arthur had studied at Trinity College Dublin and had been working in the position of curate at Haworth, home to the Anglican minister Patrick Brontë and his children, one of whom was Charlotte. Over a period of time Arthur and Charlotte became more closely acquainted with each other, eventually marrying in 1854, followed by a honeymoon in Wales and Ireland.
“I knew her father Patrick was an Irishman, as was her husband Arthur Bell Nicholls – but I was surprised to discover that he brought her to Ireland on their honeymoon in 1854. Arthur, who was Patrick’s curate in Haworth, was proud of his homeland and keen to share its attractions with his famous novelist wife.” – Martina Devlin, Books Ireland Magazine
Martina Devlin states from the outset that Charlotte is a blend of fact and fiction but, as the story weaves its way back and forth across the years, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the two. This is completely attributed to the seamlessness of Martina Devlin’s narrative style and the amount of research that she clearly undertook before embracing the challenge of writing such an extraordinary tale.
When Charlotte arrived to the home of Mary Nicholls in Ireland, she was a breath of fresh air. Mary was enthralled by the manner in which she conveyed herself and with the views she held. Charlotte and her sisters were not stereotypical of that time, tackling the patriarchy and the injustice against women in society through their written word. Mary became quite infatuated with Charlotte and a bond sprang up between the two, with Charlotte treating Mary as a confidante, trusting her with her inner thoughts and secrets.
When Charlotte returned to her new married life in Yorkshire, her time was to be short, but her legacy lived on. Arthur carried a very deep love for Charlotte and felt her loss for many years but still remained at Haworth to look after Patrick Brontë until after his death. Arthur returned to Ireland, with the contents of the parsonage, and married Mary but he still carrying a torch for his lost love. Mary recounts the time she spent with Charlotte, while also giving us an insight into her married relationship in later years, one that struggled to survive in the shadow of its predecessor.
The legacy of Charlotte and her sisters still lives on today, but in the 1800s following the demise of all three, there was a sense of the mystical about them, with huge interest in any memorabilia associated with them. Martina Devlin imagines Mary Nicholls as the keeper of secrets and how her life must have been impacted by being the wife of Arthur Bell Nicholls, widower of Charlotte Brontë. In writing Charlotte from Mary’s perspective, we can imagine what Charlotte’s time in Ireland was like and the lasting impact her presence had on those left behind.
Charlotte is a striking interpretation of a period of time in the life of this iconic writer. With intriguing insights and alternate perspectives, Martina Devlin captures the person, the passion and the strength of Charlotte Brontë from a unique point of view. A captivating tale, Charlotte draws the reader into the world of its characters and is a stunning and compelling biographical fiction novel.
April 23, 2025
Thank you to The Lilliput Press for the ARC.
As someone who wrote their undergraduate thesis on 2 of Charlotte Brontë’s novels, I will say that it’s exciting to see an attempt to give Charlotte herself some visibility. And unfortunately this book was simply this for me—an attempt. It took me quite a while to finish this. I don’t think I enjoyed the narrator’s voice that much, and the writing and pacing were not gripping enough to hold my attention. Perhaps I will revisit this book later.
As someone who wrote their undergraduate thesis on 2 of Charlotte Brontë’s novels, I will say that it’s exciting to see an attempt to give Charlotte herself some visibility. And unfortunately this book was simply this for me—an attempt. It took me quite a while to finish this. I don’t think I enjoyed the narrator’s voice that much, and the writing and pacing were not gripping enough to hold my attention. Perhaps I will revisit this book later.
March 16, 2025
Martina Devlin, Charlotte, Independent Publishers Group | The Lilliput Press, August 2025.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
The Charlotte Bronte of Martina Devlin’s imagination is no pure rendition of the author of the well-known Jane Eyre, Shirley and Villette and the less famous juvenilia, posthumously published, The Professor and incomplete works. She is a woman who inspires love and affection, is a sexual being, a writer of adoring letters to a married man, a censor of her sisters’ work, and while enthralled in part by her marriage, is prepared to set aside any inclination to obey when it does not suit her plans. Her Irish background is less refined than the world she knows, which is apparent when on her honeymoon she rejects her husband’s demand (based on Patrick Bronte’s wish) that she should ignore her Irish relatives. This Charlotte is seen through the eyes of Mary Bell, who after Charlotte’s death marries her widower, Arthur Bell Nicholls, and lives, not only under the shadow of the first marriage, but the continual presence through that marriage of a woman that she longed to know closely.
Where Martina Devlin has brought imagination to her work, she has used characters who fit into the families about whom she is writing but provide social commentary about the society in which the Brontes wrote. Where the presence of Charlotte’s belongings that remained with the newly wedded couple all their lives feature, Devlin clearly asks the question: How would Mary feel about this? The broader question she asks about the creation of museums to honour a person’s life. What belongs in such a place to be viewed by an interested public? What should remain private?
This is an engaging story. There is enough to suggest what might have been Charlotte Bronte’s life outside her writing. If not satisfied that enough research underpins the work, and I would have liked more, Charlotte can be read as a story that sincerely depicts the era, men and women’s relationships, the poverty, and class boundaries that impacted the Bronte’s, Bells, their servants and their community. A source rejected by Devlin is the novels. In my view an author’s fictional work does not need to be autobiographical to add to the knowledge about a writer and detailed attention to Bronte’s writing would have helped decipher her personality and responses to marriage, friendship, and a world outside the rectory.
The feeling of despair, sorrow and loss permeates Mary Bell’s account, along with short bursts of laughter and beauty. It is here Devlin excels. The everlasting power of Charlotte Bronte, that readers know through her writing, is given a personal perspective in Mary Bell’s story. In this depiction of an encounter that might have been is the essence of what a writer can offer. It is far more than the items, lovingly though they may be accumulated, in a museum. Perhaps Devlin is telling us that a writer’s presence can be felt outside the published and unpublished works and her imagination provides one possible perspective of Bronte’s other life.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
The Charlotte Bronte of Martina Devlin’s imagination is no pure rendition of the author of the well-known Jane Eyre, Shirley and Villette and the less famous juvenilia, posthumously published, The Professor and incomplete works. She is a woman who inspires love and affection, is a sexual being, a writer of adoring letters to a married man, a censor of her sisters’ work, and while enthralled in part by her marriage, is prepared to set aside any inclination to obey when it does not suit her plans. Her Irish background is less refined than the world she knows, which is apparent when on her honeymoon she rejects her husband’s demand (based on Patrick Bronte’s wish) that she should ignore her Irish relatives. This Charlotte is seen through the eyes of Mary Bell, who after Charlotte’s death marries her widower, Arthur Bell Nicholls, and lives, not only under the shadow of the first marriage, but the continual presence through that marriage of a woman that she longed to know closely.
Where Martina Devlin has brought imagination to her work, she has used characters who fit into the families about whom she is writing but provide social commentary about the society in which the Brontes wrote. Where the presence of Charlotte’s belongings that remained with the newly wedded couple all their lives feature, Devlin clearly asks the question: How would Mary feel about this? The broader question she asks about the creation of museums to honour a person’s life. What belongs in such a place to be viewed by an interested public? What should remain private?
This is an engaging story. There is enough to suggest what might have been Charlotte Bronte’s life outside her writing. If not satisfied that enough research underpins the work, and I would have liked more, Charlotte can be read as a story that sincerely depicts the era, men and women’s relationships, the poverty, and class boundaries that impacted the Bronte’s, Bells, their servants and their community. A source rejected by Devlin is the novels. In my view an author’s fictional work does not need to be autobiographical to add to the knowledge about a writer and detailed attention to Bronte’s writing would have helped decipher her personality and responses to marriage, friendship, and a world outside the rectory.
The feeling of despair, sorrow and loss permeates Mary Bell’s account, along with short bursts of laughter and beauty. It is here Devlin excels. The everlasting power of Charlotte Bronte, that readers know through her writing, is given a personal perspective in Mary Bell’s story. In this depiction of an encounter that might have been is the essence of what a writer can offer. It is far more than the items, lovingly though they may be accumulated, in a museum. Perhaps Devlin is telling us that a writer’s presence can be felt outside the published and unpublished works and her imagination provides one possible perspective of Bronte’s other life.
September 18, 2024
This book was not at all what I was expecting, I imagined this to be a sort of bio sketch of Charlotte Brontë’s life and instead it is an engrossing story of Mary Bell Nicholas, the second wife of Charlotte’s husband Arthur Nicholas, who spends her married life living in the shadow of Brontë greatness. It is through Mary we catch snippets of what the creator of Jane Eyre might have been like, alongside an absorbing tale of family drama set in Ireland post famine and into the early 20th century.
I loved the structure of this novel, varying timelines split between Mary in her old age, her time spent married to Arthur and Arthur and Charlotte’s honeymoon period in Ireland. Parts of the story are also told through interviews and love letters, lost diaries and newspaper articles all doing wonderful things for the pace.
There are a lot of dislikable men, Arthur who will never be capable of truly loving Mary after the death of Charlotte and who makes no attempts to discredit Mary’s fears of this. Richard, Mary’s brother, the playboy, destroying women’s lives with no concern for the outcome and even Mr Brontë, ashamed of his humble Irish beginnings, changing his name from Brunty to Brontë and exercising his constraint over Charlotte even after she becomes a wife. And of course, in the wake of this patriarchy there are the women. I couldn’t help but feel great amounts of sympathy for Mary.
Delightful, with great writing and a wonderful sense of time and place, to be enjoyed whether you’re a Brontë fan or not.
Thank you to the author and @liliputpress for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
I loved the structure of this novel, varying timelines split between Mary in her old age, her time spent married to Arthur and Arthur and Charlotte’s honeymoon period in Ireland. Parts of the story are also told through interviews and love letters, lost diaries and newspaper articles all doing wonderful things for the pace.
There are a lot of dislikable men, Arthur who will never be capable of truly loving Mary after the death of Charlotte and who makes no attempts to discredit Mary’s fears of this. Richard, Mary’s brother, the playboy, destroying women’s lives with no concern for the outcome and even Mr Brontë, ashamed of his humble Irish beginnings, changing his name from Brunty to Brontë and exercising his constraint over Charlotte even after she becomes a wife. And of course, in the wake of this patriarchy there are the women. I couldn’t help but feel great amounts of sympathy for Mary.
Delightful, with great writing and a wonderful sense of time and place, to be enjoyed whether you’re a Brontë fan or not.
Thank you to the author and @liliputpress for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
March 19, 2025
Martina Devlin states that her historical novel was throughly researched but that many parts are speculative and I would say that it’s very clear the book is well researched. The speculative parts blend in very nicely to the point that I found myself having to do research to know which parts were which. Charlotte is about Charlotte Brontë’s life at the time of her marriage to Arthur Bell Nicholls but it’s told through the remembrances of Arthur’s cousin and second wife, Mary Bell. Because of this it is mostly a story about Mary Bell and the impact Charlotte had on her life. Charlotte is a very vivid character in this book, as she was in her actual life. My heart broke for Mary Bell so many times while reading this book and yet I think she was also imprinted by the legend of Charlotte Brontë in a way that made her feel lucky to have experienced her- or this book at least made me feel that was a strong possibility. It’s an excellent book and I highly recommend it especially to fans of Charlotte Brontë.
April 24, 2025
4.75 stars
This book was super interesting for a few reasons. Its format included a variety of time periods and points of view, as well as some letters and other kinds of sources. It also centered the character and story of Mary Nichols Bell, who married Charlotte Bronte's husband Arthur after Charlotte died.
In some ways the novel, named for Charlotte in a way almost reminiscent of du Maurier's Rebecca, where the eponymous deceased wife haunts the new one even in death. Mary's view of Charlotte seems almost unbelievably mature and almost protective. The reader sees their historical paths crossing (in fictionalized ways) and learns about the relationship they built together through shared goals and values earlier on.
This book was not like the description, which I expected would be some little thing from Bronte's perspective about her marriage. I think it was quite a bit more interesting and better. I'd recommend it to anyone even if they aren't into Charlotte Bronte, if they like historical fiction and to think about relationships, women's relationships to each other, what it means to marry someone who has loved a partner who passed previously etc.
Thank you to The Lilliput Press for providing an advance copy for unbiased review.
This book was super interesting for a few reasons. Its format included a variety of time periods and points of view, as well as some letters and other kinds of sources. It also centered the character and story of Mary Nichols Bell, who married Charlotte Bronte's husband Arthur after Charlotte died.
In some ways the novel, named for Charlotte in a way almost reminiscent of du Maurier's Rebecca, where the eponymous deceased wife haunts the new one even in death. Mary's view of Charlotte seems almost unbelievably mature and almost protective. The reader sees their historical paths crossing (in fictionalized ways) and learns about the relationship they built together through shared goals and values earlier on.
This book was not like the description, which I expected would be some little thing from Bronte's perspective about her marriage. I think it was quite a bit more interesting and better. I'd recommend it to anyone even if they aren't into Charlotte Bronte, if they like historical fiction and to think about relationships, women's relationships to each other, what it means to marry someone who has loved a partner who passed previously etc.
Thank you to The Lilliput Press for providing an advance copy for unbiased review.
March 4, 2025
‘Charlotte’ covers similar themes to ‘Miss Austen’. Here the focus is on Mary Bell who married Charlotte’s husband Arthur after her death and who became a minor celebrity in Victorian times as Brontëmania took hold. Newspapers clamour for her reminiscences of the celebrated author and she exploits the fascination in artefacts associated with the Brontës to supplement her income. As in ‘Miss Austen’, ‘Charlotte’ emphasises the lack of financial security for women and their dependence on male relatives. Martina Devlin has done her research and, through Mary’s recollections, gives us some insight into Charlotte’s complex character. The novel’s resolution isn’t as clear cut and tidy as that of ‘Miss Austen’, but consequently comes over as being more realistic.
April 1, 2025
I read this over 6 weeks ago and have forgotten a lot of it so that's probably not a great sign! I didn't know about the tradegy of the Brontë sisters before this book so that was interesting to learn about & actually in general I found I was much more interested in the historical pieces from the past that actually featured Charlotte in them rather than in the main characters current life. Her whole marriage seemed grim as well & yet she obviously had to stick it out and didn't even seem to think it was was grim. The story of the main character's brother sexually assaulting vulnerable maids was also just kind of mentioned and brushed over. It was an OK read. Wouldn't necessarily recommend it. Id say sticking to Jane Eyre would be better!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2025
Deeply unpleasant protagonist/narrator and honestly borderline offensive to the legacy of Charlotte Bronte (and Arthur Bell Nicholls). Taking creative liberties is to be expected, but writing about events that straight-up didn’t happen (like burning Charlotte’s wedding dress or inventing a philandering brother for Mary - and for what?) is wild. Having Mary Bell eavesdrop on Charlotte and Arthur having pornographic-style sex was…a choice.
Devlin tried to mimic Charlotte’s voice in fictional letters, which was pretty awful. She then tried her hand at writing a “lost” Charlotte Bronte story, which was shit.
In disbelief that this author was funded by an Irish arts council to write this tripe.
Devlin tried to mimic Charlotte’s voice in fictional letters, which was pretty awful. She then tried her hand at writing a “lost” Charlotte Bronte story, which was shit.
In disbelief that this author was funded by an Irish arts council to write this tripe.
October 19, 2024
This was a lovely telling of what might have happened. It's such a great read.
A bit of Charlotte meets Emily in writing style.
Even if it wasn't total truth, it was believable . I found it heartbreaking and hard/harsh the way the characters are portrayed in parts .
I found what Charlotte did to Emily's unpublished work bitter and sad. In fact, it seems easy for all the characters to destroy momentos belonging to others. I could see the point in part. However, it sat uneasy with me.
A bit of Charlotte meets Emily in writing style.
Even if it wasn't total truth, it was believable . I found it heartbreaking and hard/harsh the way the characters are portrayed in parts .
I found what Charlotte did to Emily's unpublished work bitter and sad. In fact, it seems easy for all the characters to destroy momentos belonging to others. I could see the point in part. However, it sat uneasy with me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2024
A reimagining of the aftermath of Charlotte Bronte's death. Reminiscent of Possession, this is done through letters, artefacts, interviews and first person reminiscences. Very effective.
It brings new light to Banagher. Shame Cuba Court is no longer standing.
One odd thing. The author refers to the Brontës' original name as Brunty, whereas I've always seen it as Prunty.
It brings new light to Banagher. Shame Cuba Court is no longer standing.
One odd thing. The author refers to the Brontës' original name as Brunty, whereas I've always seen it as Prunty.
April 30, 2025
Martina Devlin’s Charlotte is a captivating and introspective novel on the life and legacy of the iconic Charlotte Brontë, and its effect on the life of Mary Nicholls. Devlin writes a haunting presence of Charlotte Brontë within Mary’s life, reminiscent of the ghostly undertones found in Jane Eyre at Thornfield Hall. Some readers might find the historical elements overshadow the plot, but it creates a complex historical novel that blurs the lines between fact and fiction. Nicholls's admiration and later obsession with her husband's former wife as she becomes the keeper of the Brontë's heirlooms and secrets creates a complex character. Devlin writes a story with the same mysterious aura as the moors. If you are a lover of Charlotte Brontë and her talented sisters, I think you will enjoy this look at Charlotte's marriage, subsequent tragic ending, and enduring fame.
May 28, 2025
It was interesting to an extent but I didn’t feel I learnt much more about Charlotte Brontë.
June 4, 2025
I'm struggling to review this book because I'm struggling to pin down how I felt about it. I'm not sure it gave me any insight into the lives/feelings of any of the protagonists. Who was Mary? Who was Charlotte? I definitely didn't like Arthur, who, if this book is to be believed, should have remained a widower. I didn't like the fact that I couldn't separate fact from fiction, so ended up reading it as pure fiction. And if viewed as pure fiction, it was a good read.
September 24, 2025
I had the privilege to hear Martina Devlin present her novel. Before I started reading it, I therefore knew it was to be appreciated as a novel inspired by a few real letters and artifacts.
I enjoyed the structure of the book, starting in the later years of Mary Bell, who had met Charlotte during her honeymoon, and moving back in time. A couple of characters and events add spice to the tale, in particular the fictitious Richard Bell and Lady Rosse.
The question of Brontëmania and the handling of Charlotte's possessions is an interesting topic I had not given serious thought to before.
I enjoyed the structure of the book, starting in the later years of Mary Bell, who had met Charlotte during her honeymoon, and moving back in time. A couple of characters and events add spice to the tale, in particular the fictitious Richard Bell and Lady Rosse.
The question of Brontëmania and the handling of Charlotte's possessions is an interesting topic I had not given serious thought to before.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews