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Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Sad news concerning the Red House Museum reported by The Telegraph and Argus.
A museum with close links to the Brontës is set to close next month under key proposals to restructure museums and galleries in Kirklees.
Red House Museum in Gomersal is one of two museums that are recommended for closure as Kirklees Council centres on retaining three museum venues as part of its new vision for culture in the district. [...]
But it is the historic Red House, where Charlotte Brontë was a frequent visitor, immortalising the house in her second novel, Shirley, as well as Dewsbury Museum that are set for closure.
John Thirwell, chairman of the Brontë Society, said: "The Brontë Society is concerned and saddened to learn of the likely closure of Red House in Gomersal.
"However, we look forward to continuing our conversations with Kirklees Council to explore how the Brontës’ links with this historic building and the local community are not lost."
Local councillor David Hall (Con, Liversedge and Gomersal), leader of the Conservative group on the council, said he was disappointed at the recommendations.
“I would have hoped that the council could have come up with some innovative ways of keeping this facility open,” he said.
“Maybe teaming the site management with the public hall next door which itself is under threat.
“My fear is that if the museum closes it will fall into ruin unless a buyer is found imminently, and that would be a tragedy for Gomersal and for Kirklees.”
If Cabinet members agree to the proposals, expressions of interest will be invited for those museums that are no longer required. Collections will also be transferred to other museum buildings or to a storage facility. [...]
It is expected that Red House and Dewsbury Museum will stay open until at least the end of next month. (Jo Winrow)
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Impact has chosen Polly Teale's After Mrs Rochester as the book of the month.
Impact Arts goes rogue this month, featuring a play rather than a book for this edition of Book Of The Month. What better way to celebrate all things Brontë than sinking your teeth into a work whose brilliance was inspired by Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre? A must have on the bookshelf of any Brontë lover.
After Mrs Rochester is a play that ties Brontë, Rhys and Teale together, showing the life of Jean Rhys and her true connections to the original Jane Eyre character, Bertha Mason. Set in one room in the Devon countryside, Teale creates her own ‘madwoman in the attic’ who refuses to open the door to the rest of the world. In two acts, Rhys’ life is panned out in front of us… Or is it Bertha’s? [...]
The play isn’t long, but it won’t let you put it down when you read it. The pace is quick, flitting between the past and present of Rhys’ life, a pleasure for any Jane Eyre or Wide Sargasso Sea fan. It would be recommended to read both texts before tackling Teale, not for understanding, but simply to gain a larger insight into the references made to the two fantastic pieces of literature. Teale, herself, has created an incredible adaptation that will leave you wanting more.
Easily 10/10, alongside women and madness literature such as Sargasso and The Yellow Wallpaper. (Jessica Rushton)
CCTV features the Chinese stage production of Jane Eyre which is making a comeback at  the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Thursday.
Jane Eyre -- a name that resonates in the hearts and minds of countless women young and old. It also represents a love story which overcomes all obstacles of time and social class.
The Chinese production of Charlotte Brontë’s much adored classic has won over audiences across the country in all 100 showings. It is now returning to Beijing's NCPA to the delight of Chinese fans.
"The beauty of theater art is that every time we make a new rendition of a play, we always find something new, whether it's the lines, the actors' performances. Unlike movies, you don't get the chance to make several takes, but you could always revisit the play and try to perfect it," said Wang Xiaoying, director of "Jane Eyre". [...]
Actress Yuan Quan, who played Jane Eyre in the play's debut in 2009, returns to the stage as the heroine once again.
"I’m as devoted to the role as ever. It’s my most adored role. It accompanied me growing up. Even after all these years, I can still find a spiritual nourishment from the role. It's as if I have gained some positive energy. If a play can give one actress that feeling, it must contain strength from faith alone," Yuan said.
And Wang Luoyong, who broke a western dominance on Broadway, is cast as the enigmatic master of Thornfield Hall, Edward Rochester.
He says his early days on Broadway helps him find the inner rage of Rochester.
The actors and actresses will take audiences through a thrilling, emotional journey at the NCPA from September 29th til October 6th.
Bustle has selected '10 Scary Stories For People Who Don't Like Horror' and one of them is
2. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
A lot of people forget that Wuthering Heights has an actual ghost in it. Sure, Catherine's ghost could easily be a figment of Lockwood's imagination... but leaving it vague actually makes it even spookier. Plus, Heathcliff's whole domestic set up is pretty creepy. Wuthering Heights definitely doesn't belong in the horror section, but it is a Gothic novel with plenty of eerie (but not scary) elements to it. (Charlotte Ahlin)
Slant Magazine refers to Andrea Arnold's take on the novel in passing:
Arnold’s prior work has been high-concept while too direct in its camera language to be considered structuralist, the lens typically hovering within inches of actors’ faces—inviting moviegoers to consider the characters’ perspectives, using the screen as a sharp line of separation. Her 2011 adaptation of Emily Brontë‘s Wuthering Heights made Heathcliff both black and essentially mute, anchoring emotional presence, if not the entire frame itself, with her leading man while inviting the viewer to quietly weigh Heathcliff’s sensory impressions against their own. (Steve Macfarlane)
MangiaLibri (Italy) reviews Il pensiero religioso di una poetessa inglese del secolo XIX. Emilia Giovanna Brontë by Giorgina Sonnino,  originally published in 1904.
Intorno al 1850 i moti spirituali e culturali di Haworth (West Yorkshire) assumono un semplice e infinito carattere. Sono soprattutto i Brontë ad attrarre l’interesse generale: e non solo del villaggio, ma di ogni persona colta, in modo speciale dei posteri e di non pochi animi eletti. Delle Brontë della contea, “Carlotta è la più conosciuta, sotto lo pseudonimo di romanziera, Currer Bell. Ma Emilia è la figura di gran lunga più originale”. Il cuore di Emily (1818-1848), difatti, alias Ellis Bell, “donna poeta” e autrice di uno dei più grandi e famosi romanzi del secolo XIX, Wuthering Heights, è tutto rivolto alla natura e ai più intimi affetti: sicché, in questa necessità di pensiero, non troviamo la sola educazione, ma l’abito di tutta una vita, “modestissima e solitaria, […] libera e spontanea”. Non per niente il fascino della poetessa si riverbera su ogni gesto e dentro ogni parola, e risente delle grandi forze, dell’ambiente e dell’anima profonda dei moors in cui vive. “La casa essendo sull’orlo dell’altipiano, prospettava sui moors. In quelli vagavano i bambini; e quelli con la loro severa poesia educavano, più che i libri, l’animo di Emilia”... (Amalia Lauritano) (Translation)
The pronunciation of Brontë is briefly touched upon by Dagens Nyheter (Sweden). Journey to Ambeth tells about a visit to the George Hotel in Hathersage, which we wouldn't go as far as describing as 'once a favourite haunt of Charlotte Bronte' though. Shoshi's Book Blog and Książki Moni (in Polish) both post about Wuthering Heights, A Quirky Kook shares pictures from a recent walk on Haworth moor.

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