Charlotte Brontë: a villain with a scandalous past

Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford is reviewed by the Bay Area Reporter and Charlotte Brontë's cameo is mentioned:

Readers should be prepared to meet more than one famous literary figure from the past with a hematological challenge. Lord Byron and Charlotte Bronte make rather spectacular appearances in the narrative – both as villains with a scandalous past – as Ms. Austen/Fairfax learns the hard way that climbing to the top of the New York Times bestseller list brings more than a few challenges in the 21st century. (Robert Julian)

And what can there be on a related note to this? Twilight, of course, which is discussed by The Oxford Student.

Speaking of which, before accusations are levelled about Edward’s treatment of Bella, it would be worthwhile considering the heroes of many “classic” romances and seeing how far they match up to the criteria for an abusive relationship. The brooding Mr. Rochester, who psychologically torments Jane Eyre into falling for him or for love as justification for self-destruction one need look no further than Romeo and Juliet, a coupling that has become synonymous with love. Even Mr Darcy has had one or two moments which could easily be seen in an pretty bad light if people were desperately trying to justify hating Pride and Prejudice. (Jonny Sims and Sasha McKenna)

It's all in the eye of the beholder but we would never have quite put it as 'Mr. Rochester, who psychologically torments Jane Eyre into falling for him', to be honest. And the point would be that Jane is capable of refusing him anyway.

The Recessionista in The Huffington Post loves books in general and the Brontës in particular:

Reader, books are a sacred thing. They have opened up so many new worlds for me. Emily Bronte and Emily Dickinson may have rarely left their respective homes in Haworth, England and Amherst, Massachusetts. But thanks to books, their words went all over the world. And over 100 years later, I got to know them and their powerful prose. (Mary Hall)

Given the recent weather in Oxford and the UK, the OUP Blog looks for snowy excerpts in the classics. Wuthering Heights, as you know, has a very snowy and fateful beginning.

Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
The second chapter of Emily Bronte’s only novel sees our narrator, Lockwood, stranded at Wuthering Heights thanks to a severe snow storm.
“The snow began to drive thickly. I seized the handle to essay another trial; when a young man without coat, and shouldering a pitchfork, appeared in the yard behind. He hailed me to follow him, and, after marching through a wash-house, and a paved area containing a coal-shed, pump, and pigeon-cot, we at length arrived in the huge, warm, cheerful apartment where I was formerly received. It glowed delightfully in the radiance of an immense fire, compounded of coal, peat, and wood; and near the table, laid for a plentiful evening meal, I was pleased to observe the ‘missis,’ an individual whose existence I had never previously suspected. I bowed and waited, thinking she would bid me take a seat. She looked at me, leaning back in her chair, and remained motionless and mute.” (Kirsty McHugh)

And The Washington Post can't help but mention Heathcliff when discussing Iris Robinson's affair:

One might have hoped -- I did -- that the female politician's dalliance would be less squalid than the male version, more mooning over Heathcliff than checking into the Mayflower as Client No. 9. (Ruth Marcus)

We were somehow expecting the Brontës to crop up in this whole mess, though we must admit that a mention of Branwell Brontë's very own Mrs Robinson would have been funnier and more to the point. But we guess that when it comes to peppering articles with cultural references things stay rather on the surface.

The Winnipeg Sun is amused by a band named Victor Hugo.

Still, I think we need more local bands and performers named after literary figures. I’ll give a free page of publicity to any act willing to call themselves Charles Dickens, Jane Austen or The Bronte Sisters.

But The Brontës are a music band already! As are Villette, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights or Agnes Grey...

Musician Richard Thompson also mentions the Brontës - well, sort of - in an interview by American Songwriter.

Does living in sunny L.A. affect what you write?
I don’t think so. I kind of think you carry a culture in your head. For me, Los Angeles is a blank canvas. It’s not as if someone has already painted the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean up there that you have to pay attention to. To me, it’s culturally blank. You can be who you want in this town. And creatively—internally—it’s a bleak Bronte-esque landscape. I could be lying on a beach in the Caribbean but still write grim and Dickensian. (Paul Zollo)

On the blogosphere, Aneca's World has joined in the All About the Brontës Challenge. And Joy! Create it, Seize it, Share it! reviews Wuthering Heights. The Brontë Parsonage Blog reminds us of the conditions to serve in the Council of the Brontë Society:

Paid-up members of the Brontë Society are invited to serve on Council. This is made up of twenty-one Ordinary Members and three Honorary Officers - Secretary, Treasurer and Publications Officer.
Ordinary Members of Council are elected for a three-year term and may serve three consecutive three-year terms before being required to stand down for one year. Honorary Officers are elected annually and are required to stand down after three consecutive one-year terms. In June 2010, all three current Honorary Officers and one Ordinary Member will complete their maximum terms and will be standing down. Four further Ordinary Members have completed their three-year terms and must stand down, but will be eligible for re-election. (Read more) (Richard Wilcocks)

Categories: Books, Brontë Society, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre, Music, Weirdo, Wuthering Heights