“What you want to ignite in others must first burn inside of yourself”- Charlotte Brontë
In this month’s two blogs I will be starting a new occasional slot, which is dedicated to the biographies of famous and less famous authors throughout history. I will share a few basic facts about the author, what they contributed to their time and still mean and why I find personal inspiration in their lives and works. I have found that many great authors did not live long lives due to the conditions and healthcare of the time they lived in. They did however still produce the greatest literary works that continue to be as popular and thought provoking today.
This blog looks at Charlotte Brontë who is one of my favourite authors. Charlotte was one of the famous Brontë sisters who collectively produced some of the most famous and widely recognised novels of the Victorian era. Charlotte’s bio is-
- Born 21st April 1816
- Died 31st March 1855 (38 Years Old)
- Novels- Jane Eyre, Villette, Shirley, The Professor
- The novels were based on Charlotte’s life to a greater or lesser degree in some.
- Charlotte used a male pseudonym- Currer Bell- when seeking to be published to have a better chance and it was a surprise when she later revealed that her and her sisters had written their novels.
Charlotte’s life was mostly spent in the rural community of Haworth in Yorkshire. The wild and rural area inspired all of the sisters through their writing. It portrayed both a sense of freedom but also feeling trapped and away from life. Charlotte also travelled to Europe to teach, and Villette and The Professor each have real themes of Charlotte’s life in.
Charlotte was able to live long enough to see her work become popular but it certainly had many critics as well. Jane Eyre was seen as a bad model for young girls to read and be influenced by. Charlotte also had the opportunity to become friends with well known writers of the day and travelled to London. She formed a friendship with Elizabeth Gaskell, who wrote Mary Barton.
The reason I like Charlotte Brontë so much, is the way she crafted such detailed and complex novels about life, education and the struggles faced. She had experienced loss and hardships herself, so could add these real pains into her writing. Charlotte’s work has endured for 170 years since her death, because she wrote about relatable issues. The poverty, desire to become a teacher and find love and education still interest and inspire readers today. Jane Eyre captures a story of finding a place in the world and a voice, which I find inspiring. The quote for this month by Charlotte, “What you want to ignite in others must first burn inside of yourself”, is a true statement of what both Charlotte and Jane Eyre each stood for. You can only “ignite” ideas and action in others if it “burns” inside you as well. Charlotte was able to channel her life experiences into her novels, which gave them a power that endures and keeps her legacy as one of the greatest Victorian writers continuously alive.
Work Cited- AZQuotes. “AZQuotes”. AZQuotes. Date Accessed: 11th June 2025. URL: azquotes/author/1955- Charlotte Brontë.