Missing things in Bradford

Lots of events today, July 8, at the Bradford Literature Festival:

Juliet Barker
The Missing Brontë
Saturday, 8th July 2017 | 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
The Midland Hotel - French Ballroom

Branwell, the only son of the Brontës, has always been written out of the family’s story as a drunken wastrel: even his self-portrait has been expunged from the painting of his sisters. In the bicentenary of his birth, Brontë biographer, Juliet Barker, argues that it is time to reassess Branwell and acknowledge the pivotal role he played in his sisters’ creative lives.
From a young age, Patrick Branwell Brontë appeared to share much of his sisters’ talent. As well as writing prose and poetry, Branwell was a painter and supported himself by painting portraits for the wealthy elite of Bradford. Drifting between jobs and suffering the humiliation of a failed relationship, Branwell gave in to drug and alcohol addiction and died at the young age of 31.
Join Juliet Barker, an internationally recognised expert on the Brontë family, for an authoritative account of Branwell’s life; a revealing and enlightening discussion about an oft-overlooked member of the Brontë family.

John Sutherland
The BrontësaurusSaturday, 8th July 2017 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am
The Midland Hotel - French Ballroom

As we begin a weekend of events about one of Britain’s foremost literary families, author, John Sutherland, discusses fun facts about the Brontës from his book, The Brontësaurus. Charlotte, Emily and Anne wrote some of the best-loved books in the English language and this event offers bite-sized insights into their brilliance and the lives of the whole Brontë family.
The session is an ideal introduction to anyone just discovering their work, while seasoned Brontë fans will also enjoy this opportunity to learn new information, whetting the appetite for the feast of Brontë events taking place throughout the weekend. Prepare to be intrigued as we discuss everything from the bumps on Charlotte’s head to whether the Reverend Brontë carried a loaded pistol.
You are invited to join John, who is Professor of Modern English Literature at University College London, for this intriguing event. His lifelong love for the Brontës led him to write The Brontësaurus, following a series of acclaimed books about 19th century fiction, beginning with Is Heathcliff a Murderer?.

Louise Doughty, Robert Edric, Samantha Ellis with Michael Stewart
Inspired by the BrontësSaturday, 8th July 2017 | 12:45 pm - 2:00 pm

Two centuries after the births of the Brontës, their astonishing work continues to inspire people in all sorts of different ways. Whether in art, writing or in everyday life, the universal themes explored in novels such as Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall remain as intriguing and thought provoking as they ever were.
For some people, it’s the characters that stay with them, strong and unflinching as they navigate societies that seem alien and yet are still strikingly familiar. However, it could equally be the Brontë women themselves or the rugged, haunting and unforgiving beauty of the moorland landscapes.
Our panel, chaired by Michael Stewart and made up of authors, Samantha Ellis, Louise Doughty and Robert Edric, have all found themselves inspired by the lives and stories of the Brontë family. Join them as they discuss the ways in which the Brontës have affected them in both their personal and creative lives.

Claire O'Callaghan, Rowan Pelling, Louisa Yates with Arifa Akbar
Latent Eroticism in the Novels of the BrontësCalendar iconSaturday, 8th July 2017 | 3:45 pm - 5:00 pm
The Midland Hotel - French Ballroom

 Growing up in a cold, cramped house, surrounded by unforgiving landscapes and faced with an aging father, worrisome brother and uncertain prospects, it is astonishing to think that Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë succeeded in writing some of the most celebrated and passionate literature of the 19th century.
Their novels are rich with latent desire and concealed yearning that somehow perfectly communicate the thoughts unspoken and deeds undone. In this revealing event, we will examine whether these three young women, comparatively sheltered and inexperienced, used their writing as an outlet for their own repressed emotion.
Join chair, Arifa Akbar, and our panel of literary historians and erotica experts, Claire O’Callaghan, Rowan Pelling and Louise Yates, as they step into the secret lives of the Brontës and explore the brooding desire that lies at the heart of their own passion for the sisters and their writing.

Germaine Greer with Boyd Tonkin
Gender Expectations in the Lives of the BrontësCalendar iconSaturday, 8th July 2017 | 2:15 pm - 3:15 pm
The Midland Hotel - French Ballroom

Growing up in Yorkshire in the early 19th century, the expectations placed upon the Brontë sisters differed wildly from those carried by their brother, Branwell. The strong emotions and passions expressed by the characters in the Brontës’ novels were, at the time, thought to be the preserve of men, and Charlotte, Emily and Anne famously wrote under male pseudonyms.
How can the experiences of the Brontës inform the debate over gender expectations in society today? Join firebrand feminist, Germaine Greer, and award-winning journalist, Boyd Tonkin, to explore how the siblings confounded the expectations of their time and examine whether or not progress has been made in the years since they created their famous works.

And tomorrow:

Christa Ackroyd
Brontë Heritage Tour
Sunday, 9th July 2017 | 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
National Science & Media Museum
Book iconBiography & Memoir, Bradford Heritage, History

Bradford Literature Festival’s flagship event returns for another foray into the wonderful world of the Brontë family. For Brontë fans, this is a truly unmissable event, offering a unique insight into the lives and works of Bradford’s most famous siblings.
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Branwell Brontë and veteran host and passionate Brontë fan, Christa Ackroyd, will guide you on a specially tailored tour, casting new light on the life of the often overshadowed only son.

The journey includes:

A journey on a beautiful vintage coach
A visit to Thornton village, home to Patrick Brontë and birthplace of all four siblings
Lunch at The Lord Nelson Pub in Luddenden, a regular haunt of Branwell Brontë
Views of the magnificent moors made famous by Wuthering HeightsA tour of the Brontë Parsonage Museum
Specialist insight into the life and work of each member of the family
By the end of the day, we will have walked in the footsteps of the Brontës and returned with a fresh understanding and renewed passion for the works of this extraordinary family.