Who was Anne Brontë? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In January

Also Known As: Anne Bronte, Acton Bell

Died At Age: 29

Family:

father: Patrick Brontë

mother: Maria Branwell

siblings: Branwell Brontë, Charlotte Brontë, Elizabeth Brontë, Emily Brontë, Maria Brontë

Novelists British Women

Died on: May 28, 1849

place of death: Scarborough, North Yorkshire

More Facts

education: Durham University

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1

What are the major themes in Anne Brontë's novel The Tenant of Wildfell Hall?

Some major themes in "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" include societal expectations and restrictions on women, the consequences of alcoholism and abusive relationships, as well as the pursuit of independence and self-empowerment.
2

How did Anne Brontë's writing differ from that of her sisters, Charlotte and Emily Brontë?

Anne Brontë's writing often focused on social issues and morality, depicting more realistic and relatable characters compared to the more gothic and fantastical elements found in the works of Charlotte and Emily Brontë.
3

What impact did Anne Brontë's work have on the Victorian literary scene?

Anne Brontë's writing challenged societal norms and conventions of the time, particularly in her portrayal of strong, independent female characters, which influenced later feminist movements and contributed to discussions on gender equality.
4

How was Anne Brontë's depiction of love and relationships different from her contemporaries?

Anne Brontë's portrayal of love and relationships often emphasized equality, respect, and mutual understanding between partners, contrasting with the more melodramatic and idealized romantic relationships commonly found in other Victorian literature.
5

What critical reception did Anne Brontë's novels receive during her lifetime?

Anne Brontë's novels faced mixed critical reception during her lifetime, with some critics praising her realism and social commentary, while others criticized her works for being too controversial and morally questionable.

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Childhood & Early Life

Anne Bronte was born on January 17, 1820, in Thornton, England, as the youngest of the six children of Patrick Bronte, a poor Irish clergyman in the Church of England, and his wife Maria Branwell, the daughter of a wealthy merchant. Her siblings included sisters Maria, Elizabeth, Emily and Charlotte, and brother Branwell, who also became writers in future.

Her mother died when Anne was hardly a year old. Her mother’s sister Elizabeth moved in with the family to help Patrick raise the children. She was a stern woman, but was known to have a soft corner for Anne.

Her father wanted all of his children to get a good education and sent four of his elder daughters to the Clergy Daughter's School at Cowan Bridge in Lancashire. Tragedy struck the family again when two of the girls, Maria and Elizabeth, became ill and died. The traumatized father immediately brought home the surviving daughters, Emily and Charlotte. For the next five years, all of the remaining Bronte children, including Anne were educated at home.

The family had a big library and the children read a wide variety of literature including the Bible, Homer, Virgil, Shakespeare, Milton, Byron, and Scott. Voracious readers, they also devoured articles from ‘Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine’, ‘Fraser's Magazine’, and ‘The Edinburgh Review’. Anne, along with her siblings soon developed a love for writing as well.

At the age of 15, Anne joined the Roe Head School; this was her first time away from home. After studying there for two years she became ill and had to return home to recover.

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Later Years

She started looking for a teaching job in 1839. Aged just 19, she found employment as a governess for the Ingham family at Blake Hall, near Mirfield. She found the job very difficult as the children in her charge were spoilt and disobedient. She was unable to control and educate them which made the Inghams dissatisfied with her service. She was dismissed from work and had to return home.

It did not take her long to find another job, this time as governess to the children of the Reverend Edmund Robinson and his wife Lydia, at Thorp Green Hall in 1840. The job was initially very difficult, but eventually she performed her responsibilities well and impressed her employers. She would work there until 1845.

After leaving the job in 1845, Anne and her sisters decided to publish a collection of the poems they had written. Fearing that people would not be receptive to women authors, the sisters Charlotte, Emily, and Anne respectively adopted male pen names of Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell. Their first book ‘Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell’, though a dismal failure paved the way for their future literary careers.

Anne published her first novel ‘Agnes Grey’ under the name of Acton Bell in 1847. The story revolved around a governess, Agnes Grey, and was largely based on Anne’s own experiences as a governess for five years. It dealt with the issue of oppression and abuse of governesses, and women in general in the Victorian England. The novel was a success which motivated her to focus more on her literary career.

Her second novel, ‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’, was published in June 1848. It became an immediate success, and was sold out within six weeks. The novel, which was about a woman who leaves her alcoholic and abusive husband, shocked the 19th century English society. Published in an era when a married woman had no independent legal existence apart from her husband, the novel is considered to be one of the first sustained feminist novels.

Major Works

Anne Bronte’s novel ‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’ dealt with an issue that was considered scandalous in Victorian England—that of a woman leaving her abusive husband and trying to fend for herself and her child. The book was a phenomenal success and is considered a feminist novel by many critics for challenging the prevailing misogynist morals of the Victorian era.

Personal Life & Legacy

In the late 1840s, all the Bronte siblings including Anne, her two sisters and one brother, gained much acclaim as writers and seemed to be destined for highly successful literary careers. However, a huge tragedy befell the family and the siblings began dying one after the other.

Her brother Branwell died in September 1848 and sister Emily died in December the same year. Anne was also unwell during this time, and the death of her sister affected her profoundly.

Her distraught father called for a physician who diagnosed her condition as tuberculosis. Anne took all the medicines prescribed by the doctor and struggled hard to beat the disease. She grew progressively weaker over the following months and died on May 28, 1849. She was just 29.

Facts About Anne Brontë

Anne Brontë was the youngest of the Brontë sisters, and she often challenged societal norms through her writing, advocating for gender equality and social justice.

Despite being known for her quiet and reserved nature, Anne Brontë had a strong and independent spirit, which is reflected in her novels that often feature resilient and unconventional female characters.

Anne Brontë was a talented artist and musician in addition to being a gifted writer, demonstrating her diverse creative abilities.

Anne Brontë's novel "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall" was considered controversial for its time due to its candid exploration of alcoholism, domestic abuse, and the limitations of marriage laws in the 19th century.

Anne Brontë's work continues to be celebrated for its emotional depth, moral complexity, and nuanced portrayal of human relationships, solidifying her place as a significant literary figure in her own right.

Anne Brontë Biography

You wanted to know

What are the major themes in Anne Brontë's novel The Tenant of Wildfell Hall?

How did Anne Brontë's writing differ from that of her sisters, Charlotte and Emily Brontë?

What impact did Anne Brontë's work have on the Victorian literary scene?

How was Anne Brontë's depiction of love and relationships different from her contemporaries?

What critical reception did Anne Brontë's novels receive during her lifetime?