Brontës

by Juliet Barker

  Aylott & Jones: publish Poems, 572 579 588 666

  ‘Azrael’ (Branwell Brontë poem), 468

  Babbage, Benjamin Herschel, 750

  Baines, Edward, 850

  Baldwin, Cradock & Joy (publishers), 87

  Baldwin, Sarah (née Crowther), 946

  Baldwin, Revd William, 947 969

  Balzac, Honoré de, 780

  Banagher (Ireland), 895 974

  Bardsley, James, 252 255 399

  Barraclough, James, 106

  Bassompierre, Louise de, 463

  Baxter, Richard: Dying Thoughts, 158

  Beaver, John, 100

  Bedford, Mr & Mrs (of Lousy Thorn), 45 64

  Bell, Dr Alan, 522

  Bell, Mrs Alan, 522 974

  Bell, Currer (Charlotte’s pseudonym): source of name, 337

  Bell, Revd James Adamson, 907

  Bell, Mary see Nicholls, Mary,

  Bellerby, Henry, 548 549 559

  Bennoch, Francis, 871 875 880 885

  Benson, Edward White, Archbishop of Canterbury, 957

  Bewick, Thomas, 174 216

  Bible Society, Bradford see Bradford Auxiliary Bible Society

  Binns, Benjamin, 244

  Bircham, Captain, 13

  Birrell, Augustine, 22

  Bishop Blaize festivities, 86

  Bishop, Revd William, 102

  Blackwood’s Magazine: advertises Patrick’s Maid of Killarney, 87 Branwell writes to, 161 267 270 282 285 305 388 469 490 561 influence on Brontës, 161 173 175 180 192 228 review copy of Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell sent to, 579

  Blake Hall, near Mirfield, 358 365 372 384

  Blakeway, Elizabeth see Smith, Elizabeth

  Bland, Susan, 398

  Blücher, Marshal Gebhard Leberecht von, 72

  ‘Bluebell, The’(Anne Brontë; poem), 401

  Bolton Abbey, 230

  Boocock, Mrs (singer), 480

  Booth, John, 52

  Bowditch, T. Edward: Mission … to Ashantee, 180

  Bowles, Caroline (Mrs Robert Southey), 470

  Bradford: Patrick attracted to, 32 and Thornton, 73 Library and Literary Society, 81 Branwell sets up studio in, 340 354 and Haworth Church, 347 Chartists riots in, 654 Dicken’s reads in, 906 cultural activities, 961

  Bradford Auxiliary Bible Society, 63 70 81 82 95

  Bradford Church Institution, 506

  Bradford Herald (newspaper), 467 469 548

  Bradford Observer (newspaper), 310 312 417 441 507 743 786 942 947 950 956

  Bradford School of Industry, 82 90

  Bradley, Revd James Chesterton, 474 604 692

  Bradley, John: teaches art to Brontës, 174 203 248 357

  Branwell, Anne (née Carne; Maria’s mother), 55

  Branwell, Benjamin (Maria’s brother), 56

  Branwell, Charlotte (Maria’s sister; Joseph’s wife), 58 65 809

  Branwell, Elizabeth (Maria’s sister; Aunt Branwell): in Penzance, 56 stay in Haworth, 76 81 134 150 154 165 197 378 nurses dying sister Maria in Haworth, 119 and young Maria’s death, 159 reading, 169 gives book to Brontë children, 174 and Brontë children’s upbringing, 175 knowledge of French, 194 subscribes to Fraser’s Magazine, 208 Ellen Nussey describes, 226 229 at Haworth concerts, 245 Methodist upbringing, 291 327 opposes nursing of Tabitha Aykroyd, 300 character, 327 nurses John Fennell, 416 offers to finance school for nieces, 422 424 helps fund Brussels visit, 424 430 446 illness and death, 474 will and estate, 480

  Branwell, Joseph (Maria’s cousin), 56 58 65 809

  Branwell, Richard (Maria’s uncle), 56

  Branwell, Thomas (Maria’s father), 55

  Branwell, Thomas (Richard’s son), 58

  Branwell, Thomas Brontë (Charlotte Branwell’s son), 809

  ‘Branwell’s Blackwood’s Magazine’, 184 191

  Brewster, Sir David, 799 802

  Bridlington, 366 368

  Britannia (journal), 637

  British and Foreign Bible Society, 88 90

  Brontë, Anne: birth and baptism, 99 102 childhood, 150 174 books and reading, 171 lessons in art and music, 174 imaginary world (Gondal) and early writings, 178 185 188 220 224 273 301 316 401 512 531 535 565 604 lacks friends, 211 275 teaches Sunday school, 213 Ellen Nussey describes, 227 pianoplaying, 247 portraits by Branwell and Charlotte, 251 on life at Haworth Parsonage, 257 attends Roe Head school, 275 284 321 character, 275 visits Franks’s home, 292 poetry, 301 307 320 401 476 510 535 565, 604 684 687 influenced by Scott, 319 illness at Roe Head, 326 331 333 religious anxieties and beliefs, 327 331 685 703 as governess with Ingham family, 358 loses job with Ingham’s, 372 and William Weightman, 380 429 476 as governess to Robinsons at Thorp Green, 385 403 411 421 429 477 481 509 550 Scarborough holidays, 420 511 515 diary paper, 420 536 proposed school scheme, 422 returns to Haworth on death of Aunt Branwell, 474 inheritance from Aunt Branwell, 480 529 home holidays, 515 resigns post with Robinsons, 531 536 549 visits York with Emily, 531 and Branwell’s relations with Mrs Robinson, 542 pseudonym (Acton Bell), 565 poems published pseudonymously, 567 574 579 586 684 novel-writing, 590 626 640 657 asthma, 611 letters from Elizabeth and Mary Robinson, 616 676 ill-health (tuberculosis), 624 673 686 693 presents from Ellen Nussey, 624 meets and entertained by George Smith in London, 658 appearance, 660 defends Wildfell Hall in preface, 666 and Branwell’s funeral, 672 makes dying visit to Scarborough, 693 legacy from Fanny Outhwaite, 698 death and funeral, 701 Charlotte writes biographical notice of, 771 Charlotte revises poetry, 774 Charlotte visits grave and alters gravestone, 824 in Mrs Gaskell’s biography of Charlotte, 977

  Brontë, Branwell (i.e. Patrick Branwell): born and baptized, 85 childhood and upbringing, 125 150 and death of elder sisters, 161 classical learning and reading, 170 193 373 388 392 home education and reading, 170 juvenile writing, 176 179 184 188 208 216 219 222 231 235 238 261 267 283 287 294 302 316 322 334 337 349 353 play and imaginary worlds, 178 209 216 235 302 322 605 618 Charlotte satirizes, 190 early allusions to drinking, 192 on Reform Bill, 208 visits Charlotte at Roe Head, 208 teaches Sunday school, 213 and Ellen Nussey’s visit, 227 229 excitability, 227 painting and art, 227 248 287 on visit to Bolton Abbey, 230 supposed atheism, 239 Charlotte portrays in ‘Angrian’ writings, 242 245 musical activities, 246 432 434 portraits, 250 287 341 plans to enter Royal Academy in London, 261 268 271 285 339 London venture, 263 drinking, 267 356 374 553 586 605 609 618 627 642 666 masonic career, 267 287 374 poetry, 269 285 307 387 437 468 509 545 554 558 577 580 605 621 writes to Blackwood’s Magazine, 270 282 285 305 470 490 plans for continental study tour, 285 287 boxing, 286 writes to Wordsworth, 305 collects works into notebook, 307 forms Haworth Operative Conservative Society, 308 political views, 307 disputes with Haworth Dissenters, 311 in 1837 election campaign, 314 writes life of W.H. Warner, 337 establishes portrait studio in Bradford, 339 348 returns to Haworth from Bradford, 353 357 debts, 355 356 606 666 life and friends in Bradford, 355 appearance, 357 390 407 Liverpool holiday, 366 opium taking, 366 610 667 as tutor to Postlethwaite children, 373 386 translations of Horace, 388 392 writes to De Quincey and Hartley Coleridge, 388 dismissed by Postlethwaite, 390 supposed natural child, 390 579 and Mary Taylor, 396 works on railway, 404 430 life and friends at Luddenden Foot, 430 quarrelsomeness, 433 dismissed from railway, 434 439 poems published in newspapers, 435 467 469 558 578 618 and memorial tablet for Thomas Andrews, 464 friendship with Weightman, 466 472 474 optimism, 466 literary ambitions, 467 and Chartist unrest, 471 tutors Edmund Robinson at Thorp Green, 481 509 531 letters from Charlotte in Brussels, 494 home holidays from Thorp Green, 514 dismissed from Thorp Green post after supposed affair with Mrs Robinson, 538 551 581 visits Liverpool and North Wales with John Brown, 538 553 attempts to gain new railway appointment, 557 585 projected novel, 561 589 uses name Currer in

  Brontë, Branwell – continued story, 566 and publication of sisters’ poems, 574 Leyland’s medallion portrait of, 579 marriage hopes frustrated on death of Mrs Robinson’s husband, 580 605 619 unable to support sisters,
595 effect on father, 596 despair and pessimism, 604 618 sketching, 606 642 appeals to Mrs Robinson for money, 606 delirium tremens, 618 642 666 favoured over sisters as child, 627 dissolute behaviour, 641 tuberculosis, 666 672 decline and death, 668 James Taylor’s resemblance to, 791 Monckton Milnes examines papers, 963 Mrs Gaskell neglects, 978

  Brontë, Charlotte: caricatures Roberson in Shirley, 46 poetry, 49 215 220 235 277 282 295 303 324 334 705 born and christened, 81 and birth of brother Branwell, 86 childhood in Thornton, 90 defends sisters’ books, 104 678 771 in Haworth Church, 111 Haworth childhood and upbringing, 125 at Clergy Daughters’ School, 138 140 144 155 158 161 167 331 and elder sisters’ deaths in childhood, 158 162 leaves Clergy Daughters’ School, 159 orphan heroines, 159 books and reading, 169 193 256 780 862 childhood recreations and amusements, 174 drawing and painting, 174 202 248 381 650 and music, 174 203 juvenile writing and collaborations with Branwell, 175 185 209 215 219 232 235 246 289 333 338 349 394 satirizes Branwell’s writing, 190 learns French, 193 writes to father, 194 and father’s ill health, 195 508 attends Roe Head School, 198 210 appearance, 200 660 759 768 779 eyesight, 200 247 518 602 777 shyness, 200 206 760 weakness in grammar, 201 storytelling, 205 274 political interests and views, 206 208 258 653 818 confirmed, 211 friendships, 211 218 255 239 341 visits Nusseys at The Rydings, 211 217 career, 212 teaches sisters, 213 portrayal of heroes and heroines, 221 248 and imaginary world of Angria, 236 246 274 276 283 287 293 301 316 319 324 333 349 394 410 569 590 604 647 discouraged from piano-playing, 247 in Branwell portraits, 250 portraits by, 250 lack of optimism, 255 teaches at Roe Head, 261 271 273 284 288 295 298 333 marriage prospects, 271 529 finances and investments, 275 729 875 885 891 home leave from Roe Head, 282 depressions, 291 526 767 776 821 823 827 sense of duty, 291 visits Franks’s home, 292 correspondence with Southey, 303 writes to Hartley Coleridge, 303 395 411 and Anne’s illness at Roe Head, 325 religious anxieties, 329 ‘hypochondria’ at Heald House, 335 519 leaves Roe Head, 336 school post, 336 denies taking opium, 338 returns to teaching post, 341 quits Dewsbury Moor teaching post, 348 declines Henry Nussey’s proposal of marriage, 350 381 visits Branwell in Bradford, 356 on Anne as governess to Inghams, 359 as governess to Sidgwick family, 361 Bridlington holiday with Ellen Nussey, 365 Pryce proposes to, 366 household duties, 371 and William Weightman, 380 397 403 413 422 429 uses pseudonyms, 403 as governess to White family, 411 dairy note for Anne, 420 and proposed school scheme, 422 first Brussels visit, 424 440 442 in London, 442 life and study in Brussels, 448 Brussels essays, 451 486 faith, 457 M. Heger’s criticisms of writing, 459 dress, 461 795 first teaches in Brussels, 462 learns of deaths of Weightman and Aunt Branwell, 473 returns to England, 475 inheritance from Aunt Branwell, 480 529 returns alone to Brussels to teach, 480 learns German, 485 495 view on genius, 487 attachment to M. Heger, 491 499 502 508 523 555 602 672 confesses and considers Catholic conversion, 497 505 820 leaves Brussels, 501 unsettled state on return to Haworth, 508 512 514 523 528 proposes opening school in parsonage, 516 writes to M. Heger, 518 523 556 literary ambitions, 519 564 self-pity, 519 712 1138 INDEX Brontë, Branwell – continued apprehensions about future, 527 visits Hathersage, 532 549 and Branwell’s dismissal from Thorp Green, 539 553 555 discovers Emily’s poetry notebook, 564 567 571 identity and pseudonym (‘Currer Bell’), 565 651 716 718 727 poems published pseudonymously, 566 571 579 587 and Branwell’s rejection by Mrs Robinson, 582 585 novelwriting, 589 614 640 644 690 709 Nicholls’ supposed interest in, 595 626 and father’s cataract operation, 597 603 on Branwell’s debts, 607 and Branwell’s decline, 609 615 667 literary earnings, 622 876 refuses to revise manuscripts, 623 715 932 on Anne’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, 626 and Emily’s second (uncompleted) novel), 630 636 on Jane Austen, 646 literary critical comments, 649 and condition of women, 656 visits Smith, Elder and admits identity as ‘Currer Bell’, 657 attends Opera in London, 649 entertained by George Smith in London, 661 cost of London trip, 663 and Branwell’s death, 668 and Emily’s illness and death, 673 679 and Anne’s final illness, 685 693 695 and Anne’s dying trip to Scarborough, 694 and Anne’s death and funeral, 701 grief at loss of brother and sisters, 705 returns to Haworth from Scarborough and Bridlington, 705 on women’s right to work, 710 social snobbery, 722 theatre-going, 730 799 857 correspondence and relations with George Smith, 736 762 765 785 805 811 862 identity revealed locally, 793 visits Kay Shuttleworths at Gawthorpe Hall, 746 stays at Smith home in London, 755 734 795 841 at House of Commons, 756 hairpiece, 759 social awkwardness, 759 George Richmond portrait of, 760 766 919 937 trip to Edinburgh with George Smith, 762 biographical notice of sisters, 772 777 revises sisters’ poetry, 773 character analyses and perception, 779 anti- Catholic sentiments, 781 800 visits Harriet Martineau at Ambleside, 783 declines marriage proposal from James Taylor, 789 visits phrenologist with Smith, 803 visits Mrs Gaskell in Manchester, 804 fears suffering from consumption, 812 illnesses, 813 862 mercury poisoning, 814 Filey holiday, 822 Arthur Nicholls proposes to, 837 863 breach with Ellen Nussey, 868 engagement to Arthur Nicholls, 868 882 883 visits Scotland and Ilkley, 869 walks round parsonage table, 873 Hornsea holiday with Mrs Wooler, 875 crushed by George Smith’s engagement, 876 resumes interest in Nicholls, 878 marriage settlement, 890 wedding and honeymoon, 893 thrown from horse, 896 married life, 897 902 Arthur urges caution in letters to Ellen Nussey, 900 health improves after marriage, 902 pregnancy and illness, 907 makes will, 908 death, 911 tributes, 916 in Mrs Gaskell’s biography, 977

  Brontë, Eleanor (or Alice; née McClory; Patrick’s mother), 2 129

  Brontë, Elizabeth (Patrick’s second daughter): born, 70 baptism, 76 and birth of Branwell, 86 life in Thornton, 90 schooling, 136 141 148 158 163 illness and death, 159

  Brontë, Emily (Jane): birth and baptism, 90 attempts at gardening, 113 at Clergy Daughters’ School, 140 154 158 childhood, 150 174 and eldest sisters’ deaths, 158 leaves school, 160 books and reading, 171 lessons in art and music, 174 juvenile writing, 177 180 185 188 316 337 369 imaginary world (Gondal), 178 224 272 300 316 425 463 485 512 534 568 604 sabotages Branwell’s book, 208 lacks friends, 211 Ellen Nussey describes, 226 self-cauterizes dog bite, 230 piano-playing, 247 portrait by Branwell, 250 on life at Haworth Parsonage, 257 315 attends Roe Head School, 261 271 returns home from Roe Head, 274 poetry, 293 307 321 344 369 426 512 564 567 diary papers, 315 419 534 drawings, 315 influenced by Scott, 318 classical studies, 337 teaching post at Law Hill,

  Brontì, Emily (Jane) – continued 342 357 ill-health, 343 357 630 673 678 returns home from Law Hill, 357 tolerance of Branwell, 371 household duties, 371 502 508 517 534 556 receives Valentine from Weightman, 380 contentment at home, 420 and proposed school scheme, 422 stay in Brussels with Charlotte, 425 428 440 442 446 485 life and study in Brussels, 448 French essays, 451 essay on cats, 452 supposed misanthropy, 455 M. Heger praises, 460 unsociable behaviour, 460 463 dress, 461 teaches in Brussels, 462 learns of deaths of Weightman and Aunt Branwell, 473 returns to England, 475 inheritance from Aunt Branwell, 480 529 unaffected by Brussels stay, 484 letter from Charlotte in Brussels, 497 death of cat, 515 visits York with Anne, 530 letter to Ellen Nussey in Hathersage, 534 depression, 535 lacks concern for sisters, 537 and Branwell’s return from Thorp Green, 555 Charlotte finds notebook of poems, 564 567 571 pseudonym (Ellis Bell), 565 poems published pseudonymously, 567 574 579 586 novel-writing, 590 629 640 683 and father’s cataract operation, 597 secrecy over authorship identity, 651 657 664 death and funeral, 679 portrayed in Shirley, 723 Charlotte writes biographical notice of, 772 Charlotte revises poetry, 773 Mrs Gaskell’s biography of Charlotte, 977

  Brontë, Hugh (Patrick’s father), 2

  Brontë, Hugh (Patrick’s brother), 3 503 851 926

  Brontë, Maria (née Branwell): courtship and engagement, 26 54 58 fondness for Penzance, 57 moves to Yorkshire, 58 marriage, 64 children, 68 70 81 85 89 99 friendship with Firth family, 75 writing, 79 settles at Haworth, 115 illness and death, 117 dress, 124 effect of death on children, 127 books and reading, 169 Methodist upbring
ing, 291 328 Charlotte reads Patrick’s letters from, 745 Canadian correspondent recalls, 787 Mrs Gaskell secures letters for Charlotte biography, 927 The Advantages of Poverty, In Religious Concerns (unpublished), 79

  Brontë, Maria (Patrick’s first daughter): birth, 68 86 90 childhood and Haworth, 127 schooling, 136 141 148 155 193 ill-health, 156 158 portrayed in Jane Eyre, 156 601 death, 158 161

  Brontë, Patrick: at Cambridge University (St John’s College), 1 7 surname, 1 7 79 origins, background and education, 2 religious beliefs, 5 9 49 finances at Cambridge, 10 academic prizes and awards, 11 enrols in militia, 13 degree, 15 ordination and first curacy (Wethersfield), 16 moves to Colchester, 20 romance with Mary Burder, 22 courts Maria, 26 55 58 Wellington curacy, 27 Dewsbury curacy, 33 37 offered post in Martinique, 33 Sunday schools, 38 53 69 85 113 213 rescues boy from river, 39 character and behaviour, 40 Hartshead living, 41 50 54 69 literary endeavours and publications, 46 66 76 87 282 307 and Luddite riots, 52 marriage, 64 children, 68 70 81 85 99 love of nature, 67 missionary interests, 69 perpetual curate of Thornton, 719 73 99 preaching, 75 81 90 95 112 151 151 611 959 and social unrest, 84 102 167 political sentiments and activities, 85 88 128 182 207 254 259 308 313 471 nominated to Haworth, 90 99 appointed to perpetual curacy of Haworth, 100 financial anxieties, 99 120 165 793 at Haworth Parsonage, 114 fear of fire, 114 ministry at Haworth, 115 and Maria’s death, 117 proposes to Elizabeth Firth, 121 Mrs Gaskell portrays, 123 281 768 874 929 934 942 947 961 978 and children’s upbringing, 124 127 134 150 supposed eccentricities, 124 225 943 947 remarriage attempts, 130 and children’s schooling, 135 148 154 163 and moorland bog-burst, 150 and deaths of two elder daughters, 158 161 books and reading, 169 educates children, 168 170 174 membership of Keighley Mechanics’ Institute library, 171 supports Catholic Emancipation, 182 207 criticizes criminal code, 184 194 letter from Brontë, Emily (Jane) – continued Charlotte, 194 ill-health, 195 252 345 507 595 610 712 752 792 812 869 882 885 897 and Roe Head school, 199 Ellen Nussey on, 226 228 keeps loaded pistol, 225 musical interests, 244 buys piano, 247 lectures in Keighley, 248 pictures, 248 curates, 252 280 347 365 371 502 522 campaigns for local reforms, 253 259 384 514 793 disputes with Dissenters, 253 260 278 298 347 370 417 504 507 campaigns for magistrate, 278 and church rate, 278 298 310 347 370 384 416 440 464 503 parish duties, 280 508 596 880 and Charlotte’s urge to write, 282 and poor law reform, 307 311 and return home of children, 357 invited to Upperwood House, 415 accompanies Charlotte and Emily to Brussels, 442 anti-Catholicism, 504 and Irish religious unrest, 504 and national education, 505 612 eyesight, 508 519 521 573 595 825 862 and Charlotte’s scheme for parsonage school, 516 and Branwell’s dismissal from Thorp Green, 528 555 supports proposed new railway, 557 demands on daughters, 595 and Branwell’s decline, 596 641 667 cataract operation and recovery of sight, 597 603 611 advocates ether as anaesthetic, 613 learns of Charlotte’s literary success, 644 knows of daughters’ authorship identity, 663 meets Grundy in Haworth, 667 and Branwell’s death, 669 and Emily’s decline, 675 and Anne’s illness, 686 693 supports Anne’s wish for dying trip to Scarborough, 697 and Anne’s death, 701 and Charlotte’s absence in Scarborough, 704 and James Taylor’s visit, 713 hymn of faith, 738 and portraits in Shirley, 739 gives wife’s letters to Charlotte to read, 745 and health conditions in Haworth, 750 at anniversary of Haworth Mechanics’ Institute, 751 and Charlotte’s absence in London and Edinburgh, 463 anxiety over Charlotte’s health, 764 Lady Kay Shuttleworth describes, 768 appearance in old age, 778 opposes papal aggression in England, 781 favours James Taylor, 791 and Morgan’s departure for Bradford, 808 liking for Margaret Wooler, 809 suffers stroke, 825 hostility to Nicholls after proposal to Charlotte, 837 843 855 859 863 869 877 888 gives favourable reference for Nicholls, 846 pride in Charlotte’s books, 850 and Nicholls’ departure from Haworth, 861 suffers second stroke and temporary blindness, 862 agrees to Nicholls’ visits to Charlotte, 868 and Mrs Gaskell’s visit to Haworth, 870 sanctions Charlotte’s marriage to Nicholls, 882 884 provided for in Charlotte’s marriage settlement, 891 and Charlotte’s wedding, 894 excluded from Charlotte’s will, 908 letter to Kay Shuttleworth, 908 and Charlotte’s illness and death, 910 and reports on Charlotte’s death, 917 and public reaction to Charlotte’s death, 918 grief at loss of Charlotte, 923 and Mrs Gaskell’s biography of Charlotte, 925 935 940 947 952 will, 925 defends himself to Mrs Gaskell, 934 and Harriet Martineau, 950 public perception of, 956 961 in old age, 957 christens Greenwood’s child, 964 health decline, 963 Mrs Gaskell visits in old age, 946 death and funeral, 967 The Cottage in the Wood, 77 282 961 Cottage Poems, 48 66 78 The Maid of Killarney, 87 112 135 184 ‘On Conversation’, 77 The Rural Minstrel (poems), 66 The Signs of the Times, 254 260 ‘A Tract for the Times’, 781 Winter Evening Thoughts, 47