Sunday, 6 July 2025 | 15:30 – 16:30
Ballroom, Bradford Live, BD1 1NN
Though the Brontë sisters are forever linked to the wild Yorkshire moors, much of their creativity took place behind closed doors. In this fascinating conversation, authors Ann Dinsdale and Sharon Wright take us on a journey through the houses and places that shaped the lives and work of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne.
Their book uncovers the stories behind the Brontës’ childhood home and the famous Parsonage, the real school that inspired Jane Eyre, and the ruined halls that echo through Wuthering Heights. It also explores lesser-known places connected to their legacy in Ulster, Cornwall, and beyond.
With beautiful illustrations and rich historical insight, this event invites you to rediscover the Brontës through the buildings they knew, revealing how the rooms they lived in and the landscapes they moved through helped shape the stories that still capture readers’ imaginations today.
Sunday, 6 July 2025 | 11:00 – 12:00
Ballroom, Bradford Live, BD1 1NN
Discover the remarkable story of Frances Mary Richardson Currer (1785–1861), the pioneering bibliophile of Eshton Hall, Skipton, hailed as one of Britain’s earliest female book collectors.
Currer built a vast and eclectic library, rich in natural history, literature, antiquities, and more, owning works by Jane Austen and Fenimore Cooper. A quiet force in her community, she funded the Keighley Mechanics’ Institute and supported Cowan Bridge, the Brontës’ infamous school. With close ties to the Sidgwick family – neighbours to Charlotte Brontë – her influence may have extended further than we know.
Was she the mysterious benefactor who helped clear Patrick Brontë’s debts? Could her name have inspired Charlotte’s pen name, Currer Bell? And did the sisters ever glimpse her remarkable collection?
This illustrated talk uncovers Currer’s hidden legacy, blending fact, speculation, and Brontë connections to explore how one woman’s passion for books may have quietly shaped literary history.
Sunday, 6 July 2025 | 12:15 – 13:15
Ballroom, Bradford Live, BD1 1NN
Join BBC News correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti and award-winning novelist Martina Devlin for a compelling discussion on the lasting legacy of Charlotte Brontë.
Reeta’s debut novel, Finding Belle, is a haunting, evocative story of identity, betrayal, and maternal bonds, drawing on themes from Jane Eyre. Martina’s Charlotte reimagines Brontë’s little-known time in Ireland, blending passion, friendship, and intrigue. Together, they explore how Charlotte Brontë’s life and work continue to inspire modern fiction, shaping powerful narratives of resilience and self-discovery.
This event offers fresh insight into one of literature’s most enduring figures through the lens of two acclaimed contemporary writers.
Sunday, 6 July 2025 | 14:00 – 15:00
Ballroom, Bradford Live, BD1 1NN
When Anne Brontë published The Tenant of Wildfell Hall in 1848, she challenged domestic abuse, gendered power, and societal silence. Over 175 years later, the novel remains strikingly modern. In this compelling event, Tina Kramer, retired U.S. law enforcement investigator and Creative Writing PhD researcher, examines the book’s enduring relevance.
Combining professional and literary insights, she explores how Brontë’s depiction of coercive control anticipates today’s understanding of psychological, emotional, and financial abuse. As Kramer adapts Wildfell Hall for a contemporary audience, she reflects on literature’s power to reveal hidden truths, defy norms, and amplify silenced voices.
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