Student Companion to Charlotte and Emily Bronte [Hardcover]

Wuthering HeightsandJane Eyrehave remained continuously popular ever since their 1847 publication. Though their lives were tragically short, Charlotte and Emily Bront^De made significant contributions to the history of the novel as a respected literary form. This Student Companion offers an absorbing biographical account of the Bront^De sisters' upbringing, tracing the familial and personal influences that shaped their intellectual lives. A literary heritage chapter also helps students grasp the importance of the sisters' literary accomplishments. A thorough, clear critical analysis is provided for each novel, including sections on plot, character development, thematic issues, literary devices and craft, and the historical/social-cultural context of each work. In addition toWuthering HeightsandJane Eyre,original analysis is also given forShirley(1849), Villette(1853),andThe Professor(1857), Charlotte's first written but posthumously published novel.

Five different contemporary literary theories--Marxist, Freudian, Jungian, Postcolonial, and Feminist--are included in the analysis and are discussed and applied to the novels. Difficult concepts are clearly explained, in non-academic prose. In-depth historical information not usually found in books about the Bront^Des is included, such as Belgian history, which is important in understandingVilletteandThe Professor. Clear writing and additional background information make this book a good choice for non-specialists, including students and general readers. An up-to-date bibliography includes the most recently published books and articles in Bront^De studies.