The Brontes Life and Letters: Being an Attempt to Present a Full and Final Record of the Lives of the Three Sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte

First published in 1908, this two-volume collection was prepared by journalist, critic and Bronte enthusiast Clement King Shorter (1857-1926), following the appearance of Charlotte Bronte and her Circle (1896) and Charlotte Bronte and her Sisters (1905). Building on the research of Elizabeth Gaskell, the volumes document through correspondence the remarkable lives and literary careers of Charlotte (1816-55), Emily (1818-48) and Anne (1820-49). The use of previously unpublished manuscripts and letters served to broaden significantly the scope of the work. Volume 2 covers the period 1848-55, addressing the deaths of Emily and Anne while offering many small, poignant details of daily life. Charlotte's marriage and final years bring the volume to a close. Presenting a wealth of source material, this collection remains a treasure trove for those seeking to understand how classics of English literature came to be shaped by the world their authors inhabited.