It's Charlotte Brontë's 204th birthday today! She knew a thing or two about isolation, about being both alone and lonely, but today we choose to remember a deservedly famous poem by her, full of optimism and hope:
Life, believe, is not a dream
So dark as sages say;
Oft a little morning rain
Foretells a pleasant day.
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,
But these are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
O why lament its fall?
Rapidly, merrily,
Life's sunny hours flit by,
Gratefully, cheerily
Enjoy them as they fly!
What though Death at times steps in,
And calls our Best away?
What though sorrow seems to win,
O'er hope, a heavy sway?
Yet Hope again elastic springs,
Unconquered, though she fell;
Still buoyant are her golden wings,
Still strong to bear us well.
Manfully, fearlessly,
The day of trial bear,
For gloriously, victoriously,
Can courage quell despair!
On Twitter, the Brontë Parsonage Museum also celebrates her birthday by quoting her:
Metropolitan Magazine (Italy) features Charlotte Brontë while
Frankfurter Rundschau (Germany) features the Brontë family.
The Telegraph and Argus shares local pictures of 'church life in the 1930s and we were surprised to see this one:
In 1930, as part of Guiseley pageant, Fred Eric Rogers and Freda Usher posed in front of the rectory doorway as they re-enacted the marriage of Maria Branwell to the Rev Patrick Brontë. Maria and and Patrick, who married at Guiseley Parish Church in 1812, were the parents of the world renowned authors, Anne, Charlotte and Emily. (Annette McIntyre)
The Independent and other news outlets tell about 'The most complained about books at US schools'.
Harry Potter books were once again included, for the “theme of sorcery” and A Handmaid’s Tale was complained about for “vulgarity and sexual overtones.”
Margaret Atwood, the author of A Handmaid’s Tale, told AP that “if you’re a writer and everybody likes you, a) You’re doing something wrong, or b) You don’t exist.”
She added: “I am happy to be in the company of the Bible, Shakespeare, John Bunyan, Lord Byron, Emily Brontë, Flaubert, James Joyce, Nawal el Sadawi, Angela Carter, Anonymous of A Woman in Berlin, and so many others. Lucky me, I live in a democracy, so at least I’m not in jail or being tossed out of a plane.” (James Crump)
Jane Eyre and
Wuthering Heights are among 'The 39 Best Books To Read If You Want To Seriously Improve Your Literary Prowess' according to
Elle.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Of course the Brontë sisters were going to feature on the list. Jane Eyre tells the story of orphaned Jane on her quest to find love, belonging and independence. [...]
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
Emily Brontë's only novel follows the passionate story of the intense, painful love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff, a boy adopted by her father. (Amy Brewster)
First Post (India) wonders whether grey is now a fashionable colour.
When I imagine a Brontë or Austen or Dickens novel, I see a lot of grey. The moor, the fog, the waistcoats, the gruel. Grey has existed in Western clothing for centuries, mainly because it was the colour of undyed wool, which made it a popular choice for the proletariat. It became fashionable in the 18th century for mid-level noblemen who appended their names with an Esquire, and was occasionally seen fashioned into women’s dresses. (Manjima Bhattacharjya)
Jane Austen - grey?
One of
The Guardian Book Blog readers thinks
Wide Sargasso Sea is 'brilliant'.
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