The Bronte Myth

In a brilliant combination of biography, literary criticism, and history,The Bronte Mythshows how Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte became cultural icons whose ever-changing reputations reflected the obsessions of various eras. When literary London learned thatJane EyreandWuthering Heightshad been written by young rural spinsters, the Brontes instantly became as famous as their shockingly passionate books. Soon after their deaths, their first biographer spun the sisters into a picturesque myth of family tragedies and Yorkshire moors. Ever since, these enigmatic figures have tempted generations of readersVictorian, Freudian, feministto reinterpret them, casting them as everything from domestic saints to sex-starved hysterics. In her bewitching "metabiography," Lucasta Miller follows the twists and turns of the phenomenon of Bront-mania and rescues these three fiercely original geniuses from the distortions of legend. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Lucasta Miller has published research on Milton and worked as a literary journalist for, among others, The Times, Sunday Telegraph, New Statesman, TLS, Economist and the Independent, of which she was Deputy Literary Editor. She is married to the tenor Ian Bostridge and lives in London. This is her first book.


From the Hardcover edition.