the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Peter Bayne : Two Great Englishwomen

The Bronte enthusiast Sidney Biddell to Charlotte Bronte's former schoolfriend, Ellen Nussey, 15 May 1883:

'Miss Robinson's "Emily Bronte" is prettily enough written [...]

But I confess to being a little disappointed, as my knowledge of that great woman is not one jot increased by anything Miss R. has written. I prefer Mrs Gaskell's work as being more versatile; Mr Reid's as being more vivacious, and Mr Bayne as being more stern and real [goes on to criticise 'the constant mention of Branwell Bronte' as 'the great blot in the book']

[...]

'It's a pity she did not make her [Emily Bronte] more of a psychological study, and gone a little deeper into the recesses of her mind [...] We owe Miss Robinson a debt of gratitude if only for the beautiful poem she has unearthed and given in at the end of her work, commencing "No coward Soul is mine" —
'It is new to me, at least I don't remember it.'

Century: 1850-1899     Reader/Listener/Group: Sidney Biddell      Print: Book

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