There was once a little girl and her name was Ane

That's how Charlotte Brontë's first book ever in existence starts, misspelling her own sister's name.

As we found out a few days ago through the Brontë Parsonage Blog this tiny book will be on display at the Parsonage in June.

The Yorkshire Post has a whole article about this cute little book:

The tiny manuscript, no bigger than the palm of a hand, measures 42 x 64mm, and was believed to be a story written by Charlotte between 1826 and 1829, when she was aged between 10 and 13, for her sister Anne.
The fragile piece, which was bound in leather at a later date, is the only surviving one of its kind and includes watercolour pictures and the original covers which were made from tiny pieces of grey-flowered wallpaper which is still intact.
Although the volume has been part of the collection at Haworth's Brontë Parsonage Museum since 1927, it has rarely been on display due to its fragile nature. Its tiny writing is hardly readable.
A spokeswoman for the museum said: "The children used to gather round their little desk in the bedroom and write stories for each other in really small writing so nobody else apart from them could read it.
"It was not meant to be read by anyone else – it was like a secret society they had between themselves.
"Also because paper was really scarce at the time, they had to make the most of what they had. They couldn't afford to waste it."
Ann Dinsdale, museum librarian, added: "This little book is the earliest surviving manuscript by Charlotte Brontë and marks the beginning of her long apprenticeship in literature. It was an apprenticeship that would culminate 20 years later with the writing of Jane Eyre – one of the most popular books ever written."
The book, which will temporarily be on display at the Parsonage Museum from June, will also feature in a BBC2 programme which has gathered together some of the most quirky and unusual museum items from across the UK.
The BBC2 series People's Museum, designed to coincide with Museums and Galleries Month, is currently inviting viewers to vote for their favourite museum artefact. The tiny Brontë book will be featured on May 30.
The winning object with the most votes will be revealed on June 9.
Filming took place at the Parsonage Museum earlier in the year with presenter Jules Hudson interviewing Ms Dinsdale, who explained to viewers the origin of the volume and how Charlotte Brontë's early writings influenced her most famous works.

The little book cannot be voted for just yet but as soon as it's possible to vote for it we will let you know so that you do!

Picture courtesy of the Brontë Parsonage Blog.

Categories: Brontë_Parsonage_Museum, Brontëana