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Branwell Brontë
Branwell Brontë: A Biography.
- GenresNonfictionBiography
1 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1961
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 6, 2010
As I expected, I found Gerin's account of Branwell more convincing in its details than du Maurier's, though less sympathetic. I'm glad I've read both, but on the whole, if you're only going to read one, read this one, because it's much less speculative and has a lot of interesting analysis of Branwell's writings.
November 12, 2012
This biography of Branwell was written around the same time as the Du Maurier book. This book used direct language. It wasn't flowery like the Du Maurier text.
Gerin was direct and to the point. Branwell was a troubled young man who had a hard time making a go of his life. He thought that he was entitled to success. As soon as the work got frustrating or hard he abandoned it. Couple that with all of his medical problems and you have a recipe for disaster.
If Branwell and his sister Charlotte had collected their Angrian Saga stories together for publication, they would have archieved even more lauds and laurels for their imaginative and thought provoking writing.
Branwell was destined for bigger and better things that nature, circumstance, and his own inner self deprived him of.
Gerin was direct and to the point. Branwell was a troubled young man who had a hard time making a go of his life. He thought that he was entitled to success. As soon as the work got frustrating or hard he abandoned it. Couple that with all of his medical problems and you have a recipe for disaster.
If Branwell and his sister Charlotte had collected their Angrian Saga stories together for publication, they would have archieved even more lauds and laurels for their imaginative and thought provoking writing.
Branwell was destined for bigger and better things that nature, circumstance, and his own inner self deprived him of.
September 3, 2020
A biography of Patrick Branwell Bronte, brother to Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte.
Aside from the glory of their works, the lives of the Brontes were incredibly tragic, none more so than Branwell. Favoured early on by the entire family and tagged as the one to bring fame & fortune to himself, Branwell grew up coddled by his father, aunt and sisters. He was extremely well-read and well-spoken, with an engaging manner and charm to spare. On his first foray into the world at large, however, he discovered that the crippling shyness that afflicted his sisters (and his own inferiority complex) would not allow him to reach his early potential.
This book is beyond sad, yet very instructive as to what it really takes to be an artist. Very little is available with regards to the private life of Branwell but what is extant has been wrung of every drop of information. One annoying device the author uses is to quote a sentence or two to explain her point, occasionally several times, then she includes the entire source from which the quote is gleaned. I put this down to the limited number of sources with which she had to work, but it's still a little irritating.
Recommended for history, literature and Bronte lovers.
Aside from the glory of their works, the lives of the Brontes were incredibly tragic, none more so than Branwell. Favoured early on by the entire family and tagged as the one to bring fame & fortune to himself, Branwell grew up coddled by his father, aunt and sisters. He was extremely well-read and well-spoken, with an engaging manner and charm to spare. On his first foray into the world at large, however, he discovered that the crippling shyness that afflicted his sisters (and his own inferiority complex) would not allow him to reach his early potential.
This book is beyond sad, yet very instructive as to what it really takes to be an artist. Very little is available with regards to the private life of Branwell but what is extant has been wrung of every drop of information. One annoying device the author uses is to quote a sentence or two to explain her point, occasionally several times, then she includes the entire source from which the quote is gleaned. I put this down to the limited number of sources with which she had to work, but it's still a little irritating.
Recommended for history, literature and Bronte lovers.
October 23, 2018
A sympathetic reading of the man fated to sit in the shadows of his writerly sisters.
June 7, 2024
A very well researched life of Branwell Brontë that gives the reader much detail and insight into his short life.
December 2, 2011
Gerin's biography is good if lacking in objectivity. But while she is unforgiving in calling Branwell a waste, she does offer a decently detailed account of his life as well as insight into his writings. The best biography of Branwell is Juliet Barker's The Brontës but, if you're looking for something dedicated to Branwell alone, you can't go wrong here.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews