Hiding Behind the Curtains

The Elizabeth Gaskell revival, motivated by the new BBC series Cranford (tonight the third episode on BBC1), continues generating vindicative articles. This time it's The Sunday Times that also recalls the following Charlotte Brontë anecdote:

[Elizabeth Gaskell's] social circle included Florence Nightingale and Charlotte Brontë, who on one occasion hid behind the drawing room curtains as she was too shy to meet Gaskell’s guests. Gaskell wrote a biography of her friend which played a significant role in developing Brontë’s reputation.

The anecdote comes from Ellis H. Chadwick's 1914 In the Footsteps of the Brontës:

Another story which was associated with this visit [the second one in 1853] has been told by Mrs. Gaskell's daughters. Mrs. Sidney Potter, author of Lancashire Memories, called at Plymouth Grove, during Charlotte Brontë's stay. As she was announced, Mrs. Gaskell rose to welcome her friend, and turned round to the chair near the window to present Miss Brontë. To her astonishment the chair was acant, and apparently Charlotte Brontë had fled by the door which led to the dining-room. Mrs Gaskell apologised for her absence, hoping it would only be temporary, but Mrs. Potter left without seeing the famous writer. Inmediately Mrs. Gaskell has said "Good-bye" to her visitor, Charlotte Brontë appeared from behind a heavy curtain, which hung from the window. Her explanation was that she was not able to face a stranger.

On the blogosphere: LiBrE cOmO eL vIeNtO... is thrilled with the first part of Jane Eyre 2006 and is really eager to see the second part on ABC1 (in Australia). Bryan's Book Blog has written about the Broadview Press edition of Jane Eyre. Textual Frigate is also reading Wuthering Heights. True Janian Reply has added a new chapter to her retelling of Jane Eyre under Rochester's perspective.

Categories: Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, Movies-DVD-TV, Wuthering Heights