Emily Brontë

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Emily Brontë, author of Wuthering Heights

Native name
Born	30 July 1818 Thornton, West Yorkshire, England
Died	19 December 1848 Haworth, West Yorkshire, England
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Pen name
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Occupation	Novelist, poet
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Nationality

Emily Jane Brontë (30 July 1818 – 19 December 1848) was an English novelist and poet, best known for her only novel, Wuthering Heights, now considered a classic of English literature. She published under the pen name Ellis Bell.

Early Life

Emily Brontë was born in Thornton, West Yorkshire, England, the fifth of six children of Patrick Brontë, an Irish Anglican clergyman, and Maria Branwell. In 1820, the family moved to Haworth, where Patrick was appointed perpetual curate. After the death of their mother in 1821, the Brontë children were largely left to their own devices, and they created imaginary worlds to entertain themselves.

Education

Emily attended the Clergy Daughters' School at Cowan Bridge, but her time there was cut short due to the harsh conditions, which contributed to the deaths of her older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth. Emily and her sister Charlotte returned home, where they were educated by their father and their aunt, Elizabeth Branwell.

Literary Career

Emily Brontë's literary career began with poetry. In 1846, she and her sisters Charlotte and Anne published a joint collection of poems under the pseudonyms Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. Although the collection sold poorly, it encouraged the sisters to pursue their writing careers.

Wuthering Heights

Emily's only novel, Wuthering Heights, was published in 1847 under her pen name, Ellis Bell. The novel is a complex tale of passion, revenge, and the supernatural, set on the Yorkshire moors. Initially, it received mixed reviews due to its stark depiction of mental and physical cruelty, but it has since become a staple of English literature and is widely studied in schools and universities.

Personal Life

Emily Brontë was known for her reclusive nature and strong attachment to her home and family. She rarely left Haworth and was deeply connected to the moorland landscape that surrounded her home, which heavily influenced her writing.

Death

Emily Brontë died of tuberculosis on 19 December 1848, at the age of 30. She was buried in the family vault at the Church of St Michael and All Angels in Haworth.

Legacy

Emily Brontë's work, particularly Wuthering Heights, has had a lasting impact on literature. Her novel is celebrated for its innovative narrative structure and its exploration of complex themes such as love, revenge, and the supernatural. Emily's poetry, though less well-known, is also highly regarded for its emotional depth and technical skill.

Also see

• Charlotte Brontë
• Anne Brontë
• Patrick Brontë
• Haworth
• Wuthering Heights
• Brontë Parsonage Museum