'All of their novels incorporate a theme of rebellion'

The Irish Times interviews Martina Devlin, author of the newly-published novel Charlotte.

Tell me about your new novel, Charlotte.

It’s about novelist Charlotte Brontë and her time in Ireland. The tragedy of the Brontës is a persistent trope – but she was happy during her short marriage to Irish man Arthur Nicholls and enjoyed her month-long honeymoon here. It also explores the subsequent evolution of the Brontë myth.

What is the attraction of Charlotte Brontë as a character?

She was creative, independent, courageous, proactive, willing to take a chance. She created one of fiction’s most indelible characters in Jane Eyre and gave her a characteristic she possessed: both knew their own worth.

How significant were the Brontë sisters’ Irish roots?

Patrick Brontë, their father, was a natural-born shanachie like his father before him. The sisters grew up hearing stories and inventing their own – at school, Charlotte terrified the other girls with her ghost tales. This storytelling experience, drawn from the Irish side of their family, was an invaluable apprenticeship. The broad outline of Wuthering Heights is a family story passed on by Patrick, although Emily made it uniquely her own. All of their novels incorporate a theme of rebellion – whether they knew it or not, that springs from their Irish heritage.

You allude to their uncle having been a United Irishman.

The Co Down Bruntys (before later generations became Brontëfied) came from a mixed background: Charlotte’s grandfather Hugh Brunty was Protestant and grandmother Alice McClory was Catholic. The United Irishmen were founded on nonsectarian principles and William Brunty, Patrick’s brother, was out in ‘98 and fought at the Battle of Ballynahinch. Afterwards, he went into hiding. [...]

Have you ever made a literary pilgrimage?

It’s my favourite kind of trip. The Bronte parsonage at Haworth in Yorkshire; (Martin Doyle)

BBC News features the ongoing Brontë Festival of Women's Writing.

A festival of women's writing named after the famous literary Brontë sisters aims to inspire those taking part "to keep reading and writing", its organisers have said.

The three-day Brontë Festival, which is now in its 13th year, is due to get under way in Haworth later, with leading female authors giving talks throughout the weekend.

Young adult writer and Sunday Times bestseller Bea Fitzgerald and former Children's Laureate Dame Jacqueline Wilson are among the speakers expected to take part in the festival based in and around the Brontë parsonage.

Angela Clare, programme officer for the museum, said: “It has been a joy to bring together such fantastic guests for the festival."

The theme of this year's festival is literature inspired by and created especially for children and young people.

Ms Clare said: "We hope everyone who comes along is inspired to keep reading and writing, especially young people, by understanding just how important it is.

"The authors attending have spent years considering the needs of young people and creating work they will enjoy, learn from and encourage their readers to dream.

"Seeing them all here, where the Brontë family wrote their own inspirational works from such young ages, sharing and engaging with audiences, will be incredibly special."

The Brontë Festival of Women’s Writing weekend involves a series of talks and workshops by 10 authors, for those interested in writing their own stories for children and young people.

At one event, author, TV critic and Guardian columnist Lucy Mangan will give a talk about the literary characters, stories and places that shaped her childhood and helped her write her memoir, Bookworm.

For younger audiences, Bea Fitzgerald will take a look into the colourfully romantic world of Greek mythology and the women at the centre of it via her newest Young Adult novel, The End Crowns All.

Free family events are also expected to be held throughout the weekend, including the Words on the Street festival and trails and activities run by the museum's storyteller in residence Sophia Hatfield. (Charles Heslett)

Southern Living recommends '15 Cozy Fall Books You'll Want To Snuggle Up With On The Couch' and two of them are

Jane Eyre

This Gothic classic makes you long for country estates and roaring fires, except you can be drawn into the haunting aspect of Thornfield Hall, which is full of secrets and feels a little bit haunted. The prose is lyrically thoughtful, and the story is ever-intriguing and just macabre enough to give off autumn vibes. [...]

Wuthering Heights

There’s no better time than autumn to revisit this moody classic set amongst the hazy moors of Yorkshire. The scenery alone makes you want to snuggle beneath a blanket with a mug of tea, and the heartbreaking love between Catherine and Heathcliff leaves you thinking about it. (Kaitlyn Yarborough)

 My Central Jersey has some ideas for savouring autumn and one of them is reading some classics.

Fall into reading with a book set in the season. Check out the classics "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving, "Rebecca" by Daphne Du Maurier or "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte. There's also "Hallowe'en Party" by Agatha Christie and "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. (Cheryl Makin)

The Globe and Mail opts for new releases and selects '62 new titles to read this season' including

Salvage, Dionne Brand (Knopf) Brand’s first major work of non-fiction in more than 20 years combines memoir and literary criticism as she revisits the English novels – by Brontë, Austen, Defoe, Thackeray, et al. – that once shaped her thinking, but which, she came to realize, served to normalize slavery and colonialism. (Emily Donaldson)

Yorkshire Live features Luddenden Foot.

Branwell Bronte was almost as famous for boozing as he was for painting his literary sisters Charlotte, Emily and Anne.

His prolific consumption of gin probably kept the Lord Nelson Inn, at Luddenden, in roaring trade when he worked as a station manager down the hill at Luddenden Foot. Today the pub, housed in a building that pre-dates the legendary admiral’s birth by 124 years, is still very much in business.

The inn doesn’t sell food and like Luddenden village itself, it isn’t on the way to anywhere in particular. In a year when, according to CAMRA, around 29 pubs close every week, how is the Lord Nelson doing so well? Is it the Bronte connection? Is it the crowds of parched walkers and cyclists who stop in the village every weekend? (David Himelfield)

While Manchester Evening News features Haddon Hall.

Described as the "most perfect house to survive from the middle ages" Haddon Hall, just one hour from Manchester, is the perfect place for a day trip away from the city.

The stunning stately home in Bakewell belongs to Lord and Lady Edward Manners, although they have opened parts of the property to the general public, and the location has been used in a number of historical films.

The beautiful mansion served as Mr Rochester's home in three Jane Eyre adaptations, also appearing as Prince Humperdinck’s Castle in cult movie the Princess Bride. Haddon Hall was also used in Elizabeth, Pride & Prejudice and The Other Boleyn Girl. (Isobel Pankhurst)