Mary Taylor

We feel Mary Taylor's 113 death anniversary must be mentioned. Not just because she remained one of Charlotte's closest friend up until the very end, constantly bridging that huge gap between New Zealand and England, but also because of who she was.

If it wasn't for her Brontë connection, we would probably know nothing about her today. That's undeservedly true. She did all sorts of unconventional things in her life: she lived in a house in Germany all alone and taught boys, she went to live in New Zealand for almost 15 years where she opened her own shop, she was one of the first woman alpinists, she published feminist articles in magazines and she fought for women rights. She went back to England and lived independently on what she had saved during her New Zealand years.

Charlotte used her, her family and their house at Gomersal as the basis for some characters and places in Shirley. And Branwell Brontë had a brief crush on her!

Encouraged since she was a girl to openly speak her mind in serious matters such as religion and politics, she was outspoken all her life. She famously asked Charlotte whether things had one so well with her that she had forgotten to defend the condition of women in her novel. She herself never forgot that. Little known and hard to come by, she wrote a book: Miss Miles. It was republished not so long ago, and the editor didn't trust the book itself so much that he had to question whether it wasn't actually by Charlotte!

Also by her is a compilation of articles on the condition of women: The Duty of Women. And, co-written, Swiss Notes by Five Ladies. The accompanying photo to this post belongs to that 'episode'. She wasn't all that young for the time yet she joined in an expedition to the Alps (with those dresses!). There she was endearingly nicknamed The Frau Mutter by the other 'four ladies'.

She led a very interesting life, very like a novel in many instances. And she always stood by Charlotte, and knew her very well. Remember she burnt her letters from Charlotte at Mr Nicholls's request lest the letters fell into the wrong hands and were misinterpreted. With her, Charlotte was at her most unconventional and outspoken.

So, if you'd like to read more about this amazing, unforgettable woman, get yourself a copy of Joan Bellamy's More Precious Than Rubies. Or read her own works. You won't be disappointed!

Categories: Reminder