Brontë Sunday at the Bradford Literature Festival

Several Brontë-related alerts at the Bradford Literature Festival for tomorrow, July 12:

Mark Musolf

Be More Brontë

Sunday, 12 July 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00

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Join volunteer Mark Musolf as he reflects on his remarkable journey at the Brontë Birthplace growing from casual helper to committee member, acclaimed tour guide, and a cornerstone of the Birthplace community.  

As part of the Brontë Birthplace team he shares the fascinating stories of the Brontë family and this special house, helping others to connect with the Brontës’ legacy and leave with a deeper appreciation of both the family’s story and the place where it began. 

In this insightful talk, Musolf charts the history of the project, its evolving aims and the tremendous successes achieved through dedication, collaboration and local pride.

Irene Lofthouse
Folkloric Legends and Influences of the Brontës

Sunday, 12 July 2026 | 13:30 – 14:30

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The Brontë children were surrounded by storytellers from birth, hearing tales from different voices and areas. With parents from the North of Ireland and Cornwall, both places redolent with myths, legends, and their own stories related in geographical accents. 

Listening to genteel Thornton company would have contrasted much with servants’ speech, which in turn would have been different to that in Haworth and Keighley. 

Dialect, myths and legends in each place were influenced by past migration, and new communities settling in the areas during the Brontës’ lives.

In this talk, Irene looks at these influences, the accents and dialect the Brontës heard around them, on visits to Keighley, and how these may have found their way into their written work.

Dr Claire O’Callaghan, Dr Jo Parsons, Kate Fox

Dark Romance: The Lives and Legacy of Wuthering Heights

Sunday, 12 July 2026 | 14:45 – 15:45

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Step into the shadowed world of passion, obsession and moral ambiguity in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.  

Join acclaimed Brontë scholar Dr Claire O’Callaghan and popular literary culture specialist Dr Jo Parsons for a thought-provoking discussion exploring the novel’s dark romantic legacy and its influence on contemporary phenomena, such as Twilight, After and The Vampire Diaries. Together, they will examine the enduring appeal of dark romance tropes including longing, intensity and toxicity, while questioning the ethics behind these narratives.  

Is Heathcliff a romantic hero or something far more troubling? Discover why stories of destructive love continue to captivate audiences across generations and popular culture today.

Dr Claire O’Callaghan, Lucasta Miller, Kate Fox

Mythology of the Brontës

Sunday, 12 July 2026 | 16:00 – 17:00

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With new adaptations and viral discussions bringing classic literature to new audiences, the Brontë sisters are once again at the centre of cultural conversation.  

Join acclaimed author Lucasta Miller and renowned Brontë scholar Dr Claire O’Callaghan as they explore how our understanding of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë continues to evolve in the 21st century.  

From Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre to modern film and television adaptations, this engaging discussion examines why the Brontës’ stories of passion, ambition and rebellion still resonate today.  

Discover how contemporary audiences are reshaping the myths, legacy and enduring appeal of one of literature’s most celebrated families.